Mercedes boss Toto Wolff believes George Russell could have taken the chequered flag in Australia had events not conspired against him.
Starting second on the grid behind eventual winner Max Verstappen, Russell seared past his Red Bull rival at Turn 1 while team-mate Lewis Hamilton also overtook the Dutchman. But the moment was short lived for the Silver Arrows, as Alex Albon's crash on lap seven scuppered their one-two.
Russell immediately headed to the pits, believing he was getting his mandatory tyre change done in an opportune moment. Having given up his place though, the race was red flagged which allowed his rivals an unhindered pit stop of their own.
Things got worse for the British star as he later retired with engine issues, as Hamilton himself briefly took up the lead. But the superior pace of Verstappen's vehicle proved too much and Wolff and co were forced to settle for a solitary podium place and 15 constructors' points in Melbourne.
Of Russell's misfortune, the Austrian told Channel 4: “He was leading the race fair and square with a great start and we went on to a bold strategy with pitting early for the hard, and I think it could have probably won the race for him. (He was) very much (at) the front and so it’s a shame first with the red flag and then with the engine damage.”
It's a bullish statement from the 51-year-old, given the clear current gap in pace between his team and the front runners. But behind Wolff's words may also lie frustration given it appears winning opportunities for Mercedes in 2023 may be rare.
Indeed, they managed just one Grand Prix success in the 2022 campaign, when Russell himself took his maiden victory in the penultimate event in Brazil. And Wolff also implied that whilst red flags are often necessary, the first one down under on Sunday was not.
“I think restarts are great, so throwing red flags (can be a) perfect entertainment factor,” he added, before changing tone. “I think it’s important to understand when that is (necessary)."
The action was then plagued by two later red flags, before Verstappen took the win behind an FIA safety car.
