Toto Wolff acknowledges having struck Kimi Raikkonen.

      "I had to give him a slap."

      Toto Wolff has candidly confessed to striking a well-known former Formula 1 driver. Ex-world champion Kimi Raikkonen generated much laughter during the FIA's 2018 end-of-season awards ceremony as he appeared clearly intoxicated. However, Mercedes boss Wolff wasn't amused behind the scenes when the Finn ridiculed the newly crowned Formula 2 champion, George Russell.

      "Should I share the Raikkonen story?" Wolff asked the now-established Mercedes driver at Silverstone while being interviewed by ORF. Russell smiled and replied, "It's up to you. It doesn’t bother me." Wolff then switched to German to recount the "somewhat embarrassing story." He began by explaining that he grew up "in rather tough circumstances" and hence learned early on to stand up for himself, sometimes physically.

      "We were at the FIA awards in 2018," the Austrian disclosed. "One of the F1 drivers made a remark towards George regarding his F2 championship victory. So, I had to slap him. That was the end of it." Wolff asserts that he would respond similarly to anyone showing the same disrespect towards those he is loyal to. "Absolutely. I give everything I have to my team and family, and if necessary, I will defend them and ensure their safety," Wolff affirmed.