Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed that George Russell is "okay" following a high-impact crash during Friday's second practice session for the Mexican Grand Prix.
The incident, which saw Russell's car slam into the TecPro barriers at Turn 8, registered a force of more than 30G.
Whilst the British driver escaped serious injury, Wolff expressed concerns about the crash's implications for the team's cost cap, stating they are in "serious trouble" as a result.
Russell's crash occurred during FP2 when he lost control of his W15 at Turn 8.
The impact was severe, with Russell seen holding his ribs as he gingerly exited the cockpit.
He was subsequently taken to the track's medical centre due to the high G-force of the collision.
Toto Wolff has spoken out on George Russell's crash
PA
Despite the intensity of the crash, Russell later told F1 TV, "I'm okay. I feel a bit winded after that one."
Prior to the crash, Russell had shown impressive form, setting the pace in FP1.
Reflecting on the incident, he said, "Honestly, I don't really know what happened.
"The car just started bouncing along the ground, and before I even had a chance to catch it, it was already spinning."
Russell added, "It's frustrating as in FP1 we were really strong and really fast.
"I tried taking the same line and cutting that corner but, for whatever reason on this occasion, the thing just started going on me."
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Despite the severity of the crash, Mercedes appears confident in their ability to repair Russell's car for Saturday's sessions.
Toto Wolff confirmed to Sky Deutschland that while the car was damaged, the team had the necessary parts on hand to carry out repairs.
This incident marks Russell's second significant crash in just seven days, adding to the team's challenges.
The repeated accidents have raised concerns about potential cost cap implications for Mercedes.
George Russell suffered a horror crash in practice at the Mexican GP
Reuters
While the full extent of the cost cap implications remains unclear, Wolff's statement about being in "serious trouble" highlights the financial challenges faced by Formula 1 teams.
The repeated crashes and subsequent repairs could potentially push Mercedes closer to the cost cap limit.
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The moment that took George Russell out of FP2 💥
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 26, 2024
Good to see the Mercedes driver walk away from this one 🤗#F1 #MexicoGP pic.twitter.com/4vpZcATxTt
This situation underscores the delicate balance teams must maintain between performance and financial constraints in modern Formula 1.
The incident serves as a reminder of the significant financial impact that on-track incidents can have on a team's budget.
