Wolff blames Verstappen for Russell losing Monza pole

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes George Russell lost pole position for the Italian Grand Prix because Max Verstappen "done over" the Brit during the final qualifying run at Monza. Russell was on course to deliver pole, but his last flying lap was compromised when Verstappen slowed dramatically ahead of him, and Alpine's Pierre Gasly went on to snatch a shock pole.

Why it matters:

Monza's low-downforce layout makes slipstreams vital, and Mercedes had set up a clever tow strategy: Kimi Antonelli, who is starting from the back after exceeding his engine-part allowance, was placed ahead of Russell to give him a tow. It nearly worked, but Verstappen's late slowdown turned a smart plan into a costly missed opportunity. Russell needs every point as he trails championship leader Antonelli by 59.

The details:

• Wolff told Sky Sports F1: "Yeah, I think at the end where he got done over by Max in the final run when launching the lap. It was just much too close, and that compromised the lap time eventually and that lost pole position."
• Verstappen had lost touch with the McLarens ahead and wanted a tow of his own. He backed off at Parabolica, leaving Russell a second and a half behind the Red Bull — too close for the clean lap he needed.
• Russell: "We had a bit of a mess with Verstappen entering the lap... Max just slammed on the brakes, and he didn't want to be the lead car. Kimi was there to give me the slipstream, which he did perfectly on the first run, but obviously with Max, I think it also made it difficult for Kimi to know what to do as well."
• Russell still improved on his final lap, but Gasly's remarkable effort denied him pole in one of the biggest qualifying upsets in F1 history.
• Verstappen qualified sixth, moving up to fifth after Oscar Piastri's grid penalty, but revealed a car problem: "As soon as I went out for qualifying, something failed again... the car just starts jumping around a lot more than it should do. On the bumps, the kerbs, the car's not compliant anymore."

What's next:

Russell is staying positive about Sunday. "As long as I'm in the top three or four after the first few laps, you're still within a great shot to fight for victory," he said. Verstappen needs the faulty part changed before the race, otherwise he expects a tough afternoon. With Antonelli starting from the back, Russell has a clear window to cut the championship deficit in Ferrari's backyard.