Wolff Criticizes Mercedes' Bad Performance At Hungarian GP Qualification

Mercedes racer George Russell while competing in the Abu Dhabi F1 GP at the Yas Marina Circuit, Emirati. (Photo: Special)

JAKARTA - Mercedes team leader Toto Wolff expressed disappointment and criticized everyone involved in the performance he scored "very bad" at the Hungarian Grand Prix qualification at the Hungaroring Circuit, Saturday, July 20.

Quoted from ANTARA, Wolff made clear his dissatisfaction after seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was only able to finish in fifth place and George Russell in 17th.

According to Wolff, this was less than optimal after the two riders won consecutive victories at the Austrian GP and the emotional British GP.

"It's a very bad performance of everyone here," said Wolff.

As for the qualification, Russell failed to advance from the first qualifying round (Q1) after making mistakes and fuel shortages to claim a faster increase in lap time.

Meanwhile, Hamilton struggled with the second qualification but could find a gap to secure fifth place in the main race later.

"Disappearing a car in Q1 is not a good thing. A combination of teams and riders like that shouldn't have happened," said Wolff.

"In the end, we didn't have a speed. A very disappointing day," he added.

The front row in the main race of the Hungarian Grand Prix will be led by duo McLaren Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Next in line right in front of Hamilton are Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), and accompanying Hamilton in the third row is his prospective teammate next season, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).

Meanwhile, Verstappen is still ahead of Norris with a difference of 84 points in the standings, ahead of the main race in Hungaroring, Sunday starting at 20.00 WIB.