Toto Wolff has provided an explanation for his aggressive reaction during the qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The Mercedes team principal attributed George Russell’s missed pole position to actions by Max Verstappen during the final Q3 runs at Monza. Wolff was visibly frustrated after the session.
Pierre Gasly secured his maiden Formula 1 pole position for Alpine, narrowly beating Russell. Gasly’s final lap was 0.060 seconds faster than Russell’s best effort. This unexpected result led to Wolff’s immediate and strong emotional response in the Mercedes garage.
Wolff stated that Verstappen compromised Russell’s final flying lap. He explained that Verstappen was too close to the Mercedes cars during their preparation for the lap. This proximity affected the lap time and ultimately cost Mercedes the pole position.
Russell corroborated this, noting that Verstappen ‘slammed on the brakes’ going into Parabolica. The Mercedes driver suggested Verstappen did not want to be the lead car. This action made it difficult for Russell’s teammate, Kimi Antonelli, to execute the planned tow effectively.
Mercedes had planned for Antonelli to provide a slipstream to Russell. Antonelli was already facing a back-of-the-grid start due to engine penalties. The strategy aimed to maximise Russell’s speed on the high-speed Monza circuit.
Footage from the Mercedes garage showed Wolff punching his computer screen and desk in frustration. When later asked about the incident, Wolff confirmed the screen was undamaged. He stated his intense desire for Russell to secure pole position.
Despite his initial anger, Wolff offered congratulations to Alpine for their performance. He acknowledged the team’s significant straight-line speed. Wolff also noted that Alpine had removed considerable downforce, which proved effective for a single qualifying lap.
Elsewhere in qualifying, Oscar Piastri initially qualified third for McLaren. However, he received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Liam Lawson. This penalty promoted Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton on the starting grid.
Max Verstappen also reported issues with his RB22 during Q2. The Red Bull driver complained over team radio that the car felt ‘broken’ at the rear axle. He described the car as ‘undriveable’ in certain corners.
