Toto Wolff has declared that George Russell was “the stronger driver” at Mercedes in Lewis Hamilton’s remaining season with the group.
Final 12 months, Russell comprehensively beat Hamilton in qualifying over a full-season with a head-to-head rating of 19-5, and in addition beat the seven-time world champion within the championship for the second time in three years.
Wolff has now publicly admitted that Russell was the higher driver throughout what was Hamilton’s remaining 12 months at Mercedes after he instructed the group he was leaving to finish a blockbuster swap to rivals Ferrari for 2025.
The attention-opening assertion from Wolff got here throughout a video titled ‘mid-season report’ which was shared to registered followers of Mercedes.
“Once I take a look at George, the event he is made since he joined Components 1 from the quick kiddo in Williams, after which being drafted into Mercedes, clearly with the best of all greats, with Lewis Hamilton,” Wolff stated.
“And you have seen already final 12 months he began to be so sturdy on pure tempo – when it comes to the outcomes, the stronger driver. And now with Lewis having gone to Ferrari he is taken the senior driver slot, and it fully got here naturally and he delivers.
“He delivers, even when the automotive is just not on the extent, he outperforms the automotive, you may all the time depend on George. And past the driving, clearly he is additionally nice with our companions and does a number of actions that assist us to construct his model and construct our model.
“So we could not want for a greater number-one driver.”
Hamilton and Russell every scored two wins final season, however Hamilton’s second win in Belgium got here after he completed behind his teammate who was later disqualified from the ultimate classification.
Russell ended up ending sixth within the 2024 drivers’ standings on 245 factors, 22 extra managed than seventh-placed Hamilton.
Relaxed Russell gained’t signal new Mercedes deal but
Russell has revealed he won’t signal his new Mercedes contract extension throughout the summer time break.
The 27-year-old Briton appears set to stay at Mercedes after Max Verstappen, who had been courted by the Silver Arrows, confirmed he can be staying at Purple Bull for 2026.
Russell insists he has “nothing to be fearful about” relating to his future and needs to totally swap off from F1 throughout the valuable three-week break.
“Nothing’s going to occur over summer time as a result of, actually, I simply need to have a relaxation and recharge and are available again stronger for the second half of the 12 months,” Russell instructed Sky Sports activities F1 on Sunday on the Hungarian Grand Prix, the place he scored his sixth podium of a formidable 2025 marketing campaign.
“However there isn’t any time stress both approach now. So it’s going to occur when it would occur.
“I am 27 now, I have been with the group for 4 years. Subsequent 12 months can be my fifth. We need to construct the connection collectively, nevertheless it’s obtained to be proper and I do not need to rush it.
“I have been ready 12 months. I am not going to only rush it in the middle of two weeks. So we’ll sit down when the time is correct.”
Wolff instructed media together with Crash.internet in Budapest that Russell has “good playing cards” to play with in negotiations given his sturdy kind.
“He’s delivered since 2018, there wasn’t a season he wasn’t there,” Wolff stated. “Nothing modified that in our considering for subsequent 12 months, so simply since you do not speak exterior does not imply that issues aren’t progressing in a approach they need to internally.
“On the subject of the contract, let’s examine. We are going to come out and see what sort of time period we’ve got put ahead, however undoubtedly his standing within the group is powerful, he has proven it immediately once more.”
