Toto Wolff hits out at 'brainless' Helmut Marko claim

Toto Wolff has severely criticised Helmut Marko for his claim that Kimi Antonelli let Lando Norris past in the Qatar Grand Prix on purpose, labelling the Red Bull advisor "brainless."

On Lap 56 of 57 in Qatar, Antonelli was running in fourth place ahead of title contender Norris in fifth as Max Verstappen was leading from Oscar Piastri. 

This would have meant a 10-point difference between the top two heading to the Abu Dhabi showdown, but Antonelli slipped up at Turns 9 and 10, allowing Norris to squeak through and rescue two more points to hold a 12-point buffer heading to the finale from Verstappen.

Marko claimed post-race that Antonelli had "let him" past, something which drew Wolff's ire, especially given Mercedes is trying to secure second in the constructors', holding a 33-point lead now over Red Bull.

"Bless him, Helmut, this is total and utter nonsense that blows my mind," Wolff told media, including RacingNews365, of Marko's claim.

"We're fighting for P2 in the championship, which is important for us, and Kimi is fighting for a potential P3 [in the race], and I mean, how brainless can you be to even say something like this?

"It annoys me, because I'm annoyed with the race itself, I'm annoyed with the mistake at the end, I'm annoyed with other mistakes, and then hearing such nonsense blows my mind.

"The other thing beyond losing points in the constructors' championship is that I spoke with [Gianpiero Lambiase], and I said to him: 'He just went off, he had a bit of a moment in the previous corner, had less entry speed into the left-hander, put the gas down, and at the moment, which can happen, lost the position.'

"So with GP, everything is clear, he said he didn't see the situation, but why would we do this?

"Why would we even think about interfering in the drivers' championship? I mean, you need to check yourself whether you are seeing ghosts."

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