Wolff explains Russell’s ‘disadvantage’ in Japanese GP

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that George Russell faces a significant disadvantage ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix following a challenging qualifying session. While teammate Kimi Antonelli secured his second consecutive pole position with a calm and composed performance, Russell struggled with his car's handling after a setup adjustment to the rear suspension resulted in excessive oversteer. Wolff confirmed that the team's experimental change to the rear suspension negatively impacted the balance of the car, and unfortunately, Russell will be forced to start the race with this setup due to regulations, putting him on the back foot. Meanwhile, Wolff praised the 19-year-old Antonelli for his maturity and composure under pressure throughout the weekend.