Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admitted the team let George Russell down on the first straight, saying the Briton had the pace to win the race. (EPA Images pic)MEXICO CITY: Mercedes excused George Russell from post-race media duties on Sunday with team boss Toto Wolff saying his driver was distraught after a Mexico City Grand Prix that crowned 20-year-old teammate Kimi Antonelli as Formula One's youngest champion.
Russell, who was summoned to see the stewards by the governing FIA, finished sixth after making a good start from the front row but suffered "an unexpected lack of deployment" on the opening straight that cost him several places.
Wolff said the Briton, who also collected a 10-second penalty for a collision with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, had already left the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
