Toto Wolff apportions blame over George Russell Mercedes pace woe

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes blame can be apportioned on behalf of the team and George Russell as to why the British driver claims to be struggling with a power deficit compared to team-mate Kimi Antonelli.

Russell's woes were laid bare over the Belgian Grand Prix weekend as he lacked pace throughout practice and qualifying, whilst Antonelli dominated, claiming pole position from which he eventually won the race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

To rub salt into Russell's wounds, he crashed out on the opening lap following a collision with former team-mate Lewis Hamilton in his Ferrari through the Les Combes chicane.

Russell fumed at his team over the radio as he sat beached in the gravel, bemoaning the fact he had no battery along the Kemmel Straight, and was passed by three cars on the approach to Les Combes before tangling with Hamilton.

Following the race, Wolff acknowledged that Russell "had a difficult weekend" before revealing that there was "an issue with all Mercedes engines, that we lacked power down the straight", which "hit him badly".

Wolff feels, though, that Russell also has to accept a degree of responsibility for his problems.

"Probably half of it is to be attributed to the power unit that wasn't as good as it should have been on his side, and on the other side, maybe on the driving," said Wolff, speaking to Sky Sports F1.

"But we are in this together. We all make mistakes. [In Spa], it was a mistake that the team did. Another day it is going to be the mistake of the driver. We just need to minimise it and support each other."

Highlighting the differences between the way Antonelli and Russell are driving their cars when it comes to utilising the power unit and managing the battery, Wolff said: "First of all, it's very different.

"I think this is probably an advantage that Kimi has because it [the new regulations] reset for everyone.

"Then the component of energy harvesting and energy deployment plays a role. Even the way you go on the throttle, whether you give it full throttle or half, and when you lift off, can have a consequence in terms of the energy delivery.

"That's another dimension that has been added to the driving. Now, some drivers may not like it; others may say, 'Okay, we just need to get used to it'. But it's another component that makes it more complex."