Toto Wolff's Bizarre Moment at Japanese Grand Prix: “We Did a Setup Twerk!”
In a jaw-dropping interview that left Formula 1 fans buzzing, Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff stumbled into an awkward moment during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. This cringe-worthy admission occurred as Wolff discussed a crucial modification to George Russell's car, leading to a moment of hilarity that no one saw coming.
As the F1 circus rolled into Suzuka for the third round of the 2026 championship, Wolff found himself in the spotlight, particularly with his star drivers, Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, dominating the front row ahead of the highly anticipated race. Mercedes has been a force to be reckoned with under the new regulations, with Russell currently leading the drivers' standings and the team sitting comfortably at the top of the constructors' championship.
However, it was the teenage sensation Antonelli who stole the show, riding high after clinching his first career grand prix victory in Shanghai just a week prior. On Saturday, the young prodigy appeared to have the upper hand over his more experienced teammate Russell, who was battling some troubling 'weird vibrations from the rear' of his W17. The situation escalated when Wolff revealed that Mercedes had made 'a small adjustment to the rear suspension' right before qualifying—a move that would ultimately lead to an unexpected twist.
During a post-qualifying chat with Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz, Wolff made the unforgettable comment: “Yeah, I think we did a setup twerk on the other side, something that we expected to have less impact than it had, and it put the car on the nose so too much oversteer and it made it very difficult for him.” Yes, you read that correctly—Wolff claimed Mercedes had been “twerking” in their garage!
It quickly became evident that the Austrian had mistakenly used the word “twerk” instead of “tweak,” but the slip-up sparked laughter and disbelief. Kravitz, never one to miss an opportunity for a laugh, quipped, “I never thought of George as someone who likes twerks or twerking.” Wolff, with a look of concern, responded, “I hope I used the right word; we did a mistake.”
As if the exchange couldn't get any more comical, Kravitz added, “I mean twerking is never a mistake; maybe he did a tweak to the car and it was bad, and maybe a twerk is something else, anyway!” At this point, Wolff gracefully decided to exit the interview, leaving Kravitz in stitches and viewers entertained.
As the drama unfolded, the Mercedes team principal faced the reality that their adjustments may have backfired, stating, “No, it’s probably the opposite. I think he needs to carry this into the race now, which is certainly a disadvantage, but these things happen.”
This unforgettable moment not only highlights the pressure and unpredictability of F1 but also reminds fans that even the most serious figures in motorsport can have a laugh. With the race looming, all eyes will be on Mercedes to see if they can recover from their mishap and maintain their dominant position in the championship. Stay tuned for the showdown ahead!
