Mercedes deliver explanation as George Russell pole sparks huge confusion

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has explained why George Russell's pole position was deemed legal after post-session confusion.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen suffered a high-speed spin into the barrier at the end of Q3 after losing control of his car at Turn 9.

It immediately brought out a yellow flag and looked likely to secure pole position for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc occupying the top spot.

However, Russell suddenly moved to the top of the times by over two-tenths, despite passing through the yellow flag zone where Verstappen had crashed.

Wolff insisted Russell lifted off adequately and lost time in doing so despite still claiming the fastest lap of the session.

“It was a 100 metre lift, it's a single yellow,” Wolff told Sky F1. “It's a 100-metre lift from George, he loses a tenth and a half.

“It was an incredible lap, we saw it on the data, it was a massive lift compared to all the laps before. 

“Well done to him, I'm really happy he managed to do it.”

On the other side of the Mercedes garage, Kimi Antonelli did not complete his effort after he passed through Verstappen's crash.

When asked why Antonelli abandoned his lap, Wolff replied: “I think he was under the impression that it was a double yellow.”

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