Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff reveals: This is what surprised him at the Austrian Grand Prix

In the run-up to the Austrian Grand Prix, there was much talk about Mercedes’ rivals. One name in particular stood out: Ferrari. This was because the two Scuderia drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, were able to line up on the grid directly behind pole-sitter George Russell.

However, the red cars were not the biggest threat to the Mercedes driver and his team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who had to start the race from fourth on the grid and crossed the finish line in third place. Meanwhile, Russell celebrated his second Grand Prix victory of the season.

The Brit came under pressure in the closing stages – though not from his Ferrari rivals, but from Red Bull Racing star Max Verstappen. He closed in on the leader but was flagged off the track 1.611 seconds behind Russell. When asked whether the Dutchman’s performance had surprised him, team principal Toto Wolff admitted: “Yes, he was very strong in his chase.”

“However, the closer he got, the harder it became for him to maintain his pace because he didn’t have a clear run and had to drive in the slipstream. But of course it got exciting because nobody knew whether he’d catch up in the end, or whether Kimi could catch him,” the Viennese team boss hastened to add.

The pressure had been there throughout the race. “The rivals were closer than we’d have liked. Red Bull Racing were very competitive, especially in the final stint, and we had to get everything right right up to the finish,” Wolff went on to explain.

Topic of the week

From major doubts to a major spectacle: why GP fans have reason to be delighted

Before the start of the season, critical voices dominated, but the World Championship rounds so far have shown that the rule changes are delivering exactly what was hoped for: excitement right up to the final lap.

Read more

TV program

Today

Budapest: Das Rennen Re-Live

FIA Formula One World Championship

26.07.2026 - 17:15

And speaking of his protégés, the 54-year-old said: “George managed the race really well. In situations like that, you just have to drive, and he did just that, making no mistakes when it mattered most. Kimi also showed a lot of determination after the start. He made good up the field and kept the pressure on Verstappen in second place right until the end of the race.”