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Toto Wolff Performs U-Turn on Valtteri Bottas Criticism & Blames F1 Media for the Monaco ‘Mess’

Toto Wolff is a man with multiple battles to fight. While he’s got Red Bull to deal with in the championship fight, there are a few off-track issues for him to deal with as well.

Although the Monaco Grand Prix is a distant memory, Wolff’s comments on Valtteri Bottas still ring loud. The Austrian mentioned a few days later that Bottas was partially responsible for his DNF in Monaco.

Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Mercedes Team Principal clarified his stance on those comments.

Toto Wolff blames the media for “making a mess”

At the Monaco Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas endured a day to forget. While he was quicker than his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, the Finn’s race ended in Lap 31. His race ended because of a wheel nut damage on his right front tire, which left the tire stuck on the car.

To add to his misery, Wolff admitted Bottas needed to take a bit of the blame for his terrible weekend. The Finn admitted to being surprised with the Austrian’s comments.

Mercedes' Toto Wolff during a press conference
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 15: Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff looks on in the Team Principals Press Conference during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Ahead of Baku, he believes the media made a big fuss about his comments while clarifying his stance on this issue. The Austrian said“The media have done a bit of mess, it is always difficult when the car is not perfectly positioned, but it is rare to see a driver who manages to stop at the exact point in every pit stop.

“Valtteri hasn’t done anything wrong.”

READ MORE: Toto Wolff: Everything We Know About His Wife, Children and Personal Life

What’s next for the Mercedes CEO?

While Wolff needs to motivate Mercedes to bounce back in Baku, he’s also preoccupied with the protest against Red Bull.

The flexi wing protest forced the FIA to install yellow dot stickers on all cars this weekend, in order to gather data. While this may aid them in the future, this weekend looks to be another tough one for the Silver Arrows.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff at the presser in Bahrain
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – Mercedes’ Team Principal Toto Wolff during the press conference FIA/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

With Hamilton finishing P7 and Bottas P10 in the first practice session today, Mercedes have their work cut out. Should they fall short, they face the possibility of falling further behind Red Bull after June 6th.

Can Wolff get the 7-time defending champions to step up their game in the “Land of Fire”?

WATCH STORY: Toto Wolff Swears, Valtteri Bottas Bares: Funniest Moments From Drive to Survive

The post Toto Wolff Performs U-Turn on Valtteri Bottas Criticism & Blames F1 Media for the Monaco ‘Mess’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.