Mercedes blames start issue on team mistakes, not George Russell
Motorsport.com • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 26, 2026, 5:32 PM
Last updated Jul 26, 2026
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff stated that George Russell was not at fault for the botched start during the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix. Russell dropped from sixth on the grid to 20th position following a miscommunication in the car's setup just before the race began. Wolff emphasized the team made several errors, which contributed to the problem. The incident occurred on July 26, 2026, as the race was underway.
- •Mercedes' Toto Wolff clears George Russell of blame.
- •Russell fell from sixth to 20th at race start.
- •Team errors led to the miscommunication.
- •The Grand Prix is currently ongoing.
- 5:32 PMMotorsport.com — 'Too many mistakes' – Mercedes admits Hungarian GP start issue wasn't George Russell's fault
"Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has absolved George Russell of responsibility for the botched start which dropped him from sixth on the grid to 20th place at the first corner of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix. The car appeared to be responding to inputs correctly on its way to the grid as Russell followed the tyre-warming instructions relayed to him by engineer Marcus Dudley, including a ...Keep reading
"Mercedes have shared some more insight into George Russell’s disastrous start at the Hungarian Grand Prix, explaining how he was left with “much too little throttle” when the red lights went out “through no fault of his own”.
Sources
External links- Motorsport.comJul 26, 2026, 5:32 PM'Too many mistakes' – Mercedes admits Hungarian GP start issue wasn't George Russell's fault
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has absolved George Russell of responsibility for the botched start which dropped him from sixth on the grid to 20th place at the first corner of the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix. The car appeared to be responding to inputs correctly on its way to the grid as Russell followed the tyre-warming instructions relayed to him by engineer Marcus Dudley, including a ...Keep reading
- Formula1.com—Mercedes explain what led to Russell’s P6-P21 start in Hungary
Mercedes have shared some more insight into George Russell’s disastrous start at the Hungarian Grand Prix, explaining how he was left with “much too little throttle” when the red lights went out “through no fault of his own”.
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