Wolff dismisses 'brainless' speculation of favouritism at Mercedes

Mercedes Formula One boss Toto Wolff dismissed rumors of favoritism towards championship leader Kimi Antonelli, calling such critics "brainless." Russell, now at the back of the grid after receiving a penalty, has a slim chance of winning the title due to his dwindling points lead over Antonelli, who has won eight races this season compared to Russell's three.

The Singapore GP, where Russell will start at the back of the grid due to a penalty, will see Antonelli leading by 84 points. Wolff emphasized that favoritism is "completely nonsensical" and that he always strives for balance and transparency in his dealings with drivers. He recalled a conversation with Alain Prost about his rivalry with Ayrton Senna, stating that he took it upon himself to maintain a balanced team dynamic.

This week, the team reverted Russell to an older car setup for Singapore, where he set the fastest time in Friday's practice session. Wolff expressed annoyance at the baseless accusations from "lunatics" who lack understanding of driver relationships, stressing that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are given equal opportunities.