Wolff dismisses ‘brainless’ speculation of favouritism at Mercedes

Mercedes Formula One boss Toto Wolff dismissed criticism of his team's favoritism towards championship leader Kimi Antonelli, labeling such comments as "brainless." Speaking to reporters following the Singapore Grand Prix, Wolff defended the balanced approach he has maintained with both drivers since joining the Mercedes team a decade ago.

He recalled a conversation with legendary driver Alain Prost, who advised him to keep team decisions transparent to avoid conflicts like the one between Senna and Prost. Wolff emphasized that he has always strived for equality between Antonelli and stablemate George Russell, despite the drivers' differing performance records. Despite Antonelli's lead in the championship standings, Wolff insisted that both drivers were receiving equal opportunities, citing the recent engine penalty that has left Russell at the back of the grid.

He reiterated his commitment to transparency, noting that they would continue to give each driver fair chances, as evidenced by moving Russell to an older car setup for the Singapore race.