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Wolff backs Bottas: Entertaining how quickly others call Masi

Valtteri Bottas will start Sunday's Styrian GP from fifth on the grid after being handed a penalty for spinning in the pit lane on Friday. Toto Wolff backed his driver while calling out other teams and their eagerness to speak to race director Michael Masi.

Toto Wolff believes Valtteri Bottas' three-place grid penalty was harsh given the Finn's track record, but at least the Mercedes team principal believes it's entertaining how quick others are in jumping on the radio to complain about issues. The Finn finished with the second fastest time in qualifying, however he'll start from fifth on the grid after he was sanctioned for spinning in the pit lane during FP2. Bottas stated he thought the decision was harsh , something that was backed by Wolff, who at least got a chuckle from how quickly other teams were in reporting the matter to race director Michael Masi. "First of all it is highly entertaining how quickly some sporting directors jump on the channel to Masi and come up with Armageddon scenarios," Wolff told RacingNews365.com and other members of the media. "It's good that these channels are now open up so we can all have a laugh. "On the flip side of the thing, Valtteri spun in the pit lane and could have hurt somebody. Whether this is at walking speed, like it happened yesterday, it can still hurt somebody severely. "I understand the penalty. Do I find it harsh? I find it harsh, particularly against someone like Valtteri who is never putting a foot wrong. "He was very honest and straightforward with is explanation. Others would have come out and said I don't know what happened, the sponsorship on the floor was slippery and you really need to change the way you paint because I had no idea what could happen. He came out and said I tried to optimise my start and I lost it." Wolff stated that others around the paddock should have the same integrity that Bottas showed. "So we should have a little bit more of integrity like Valtteri has around the paddock, including some of the ones that push the button very quickly and moan about everybody else and whinge," Wolff concluded.

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