Wolff raises 'bias' theory after Verstappen avoids US GP penalty

Toto Wolff was left unhappy with the stewarding decisions during the United States Grand Prix weekend.

The Mercedes team principal saw his driver George Russell handed a five-second time penalty for forcing Valtteri Bottas off the track while battling for position.

Lando Norris also received a five-second time penalty for overtaking Max Verstappen off the track as they fought for third place.

The stewards, however, opted to take no further action against Verstappen, who had sent Norris wide as they ran through the first corner on the opening lap.

Russell asked over team radio if Verstappen was punished for his defence on Norris, to which Wolff replied: “No, he didn’t get a penalty.

“And at the end, Lando got a penalty for being forced off and overtaking on the outside. 

“I guess it’s a bit biased decision-making, but [I am] not surprised.”

The Austrian was further pushed on the subject when speaking to Sky F1 after the grand prix and highlighted several similar incidents that went unpunished during Saturday's sprint race.

“It’s inconsistent,” Wolff said. “I think with Valtteri, it wasn’t even a race. We've seen a few of those incidents that were exactly the same, that weren’t penalised racing for positions.

“Receiving that penalty is just completely odd and bizarre.”

Despite his penalty, Russell ended the race in sixth place after starting from the pit lane.

Team-mate Lewis Hamilton endured a more torrid time as an early race spin eliminated him from the grand prix.