Williams boss sent text message to Toto Wolff apologising for exploiting loophole at Monaco GP that Mercedes chief wants changing

Williams team boss James Vowles has apologised to Toto Wolff after appearing to exploit a loophole at the Monaco Grand Prix.

On Sunday, the iconic Monaco Grand Prix was won by McLaren star Lando Norris ahead of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.

Heading into the race, all the talk surrounded the FIA's decision to introduce a mandatory two-stop race.

This meant that all teams had to pit their drivers at least twice during the 78-lap Grand Prix.

As expected, there was an array of different strategies being used by teams as they tried to work out the best way to navigate the compulsory two stops.

Mercedes star George Russell was left frustrated after being stuck behind the Williams duo of Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon.

Sainz and Albon drove slower than normal in response to Racing Bulls star Liam Lawson doing the same in a bid to build a sufficient gap for teammate Isack Hadjar to pit.

The tactic was described as an unforeseen loophole in the new rule changes.

Speaking after the race, Mercedes team boss Wolff revealed that Vowles apologised via text message.

Wolff revealed the text said: "I'm sorry. We had no choice given what happened ahead."

He added: "I answered, 'we know'."

When asked if the apology was appreciated, Wolff said: "You know, James is one of my guys, and I don't want to sound patronising, because he's making a career as a team principal, and he's doing really well.

"He had to do it, you know, he's [got] two cars in the points. I think what started it was these RBs that backed us back off, and that's what he had to do."

The Mercedes team boss then urged the governing body to come up with new ways to make the Monaco Grand Prix more exciting in terms of on-track action.

Wolff added: "I think what we can look at is to create some more specific regulations that there's only a maximum of back-off that you can have.

"You know, you can't hold up a train, overtaking here is difficult, because you can't go slower than X seconds from the leaders. That would probably create a little bit more of a closer field. Does it improve the overtaking?

"I don't think that's feasible. We need to talk also with maybe [Monaco organisers] ACM here, and say, is there anything we can change on the layout? Difficult in a city, we're limited by a mountain and the sea. But you know, I see the positives. This is an unbelievable spectacle."