Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, has seemingly made George Russell wait all year concerning the matter of a fresh contract. However, following Russell’s declaration that “nothing’s going to happen over the summer” regarding contracts, which came after his characteristically firm performance at the Hungarian GP, the dynamics appear to have shifted.
Given this backdrop, it was particularly interesting to observe the phrasing employed in a “mid-season report” video that Wolff created specifically for registered followers of the Mercedes team. Amidst a visually engaging video montage, Wolff came remarkably close to directly stating that Russell had been the quicker of his two drivers during the preceding year.
This observation is noteworthy considering the highly sensitive nature of this topic within the fan community, making it potentially precarious territory, despite the fact that statistical evidence largely supports this assertion. While both Hamilton and Russell secured two grand prix victories each in the previous season, Hamilton’s triumph at Spa was a consequence of his team-mate’s disqualification after the race, even though the latter had originally crossed the finish line in first position.
Moreover, while the ultimate points difference was comparatively minor – Russell outperformed Hamilton by a margin of 245 points to 223 – the qualifying performances presented a significantly more lopsided narrative. Russell surpassed Hamilton in qualifying on five occasions during sprint events and on 19 occasions in grand prix events, a surprisingly considerable gap, particularly in light of Hamilton’s traditional dominance over a single lap throughout his career.
“When I consider George, the progression he’s demonstrated since his entry into Formula 1, transitioning from the ‘fast kiddo’ at Williams to being drafted into Mercedes, alongside none other than the greatest of all greats, Lewis Hamilton,” Wolff noted.
“And as you’ve witnessed, starting last year, he began to exhibit remarkable strength in terms of pure pace – essentially, as the stronger driver in terms of the results achieved. Now, with Lewis’s departure to Ferrari, he has naturally assumed the senior driver role, a transition that has occurred seamlessly and which he fulfills admirably.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 via Getty Images
“He delivers consistently, even when the car’s performance isn’t optimal, he surpasses its limitations, George is someone you can always rely on. Furthermore, beyond his driving skills, he excels in his interactions with our partners, actively participating in numerous initiatives that contribute to the growth of both his and our brand.
“Thus, we could not envision a more exemplary lead driver.”
In the past year, Hamilton’s difficulties in qualifying naturally fueled speculation, occasionally veering into the realm of unfounded conspiracy theories aimed at explaining his performance shortfall. In June, an anonymous email circulated, asserting that Hamilton was the subject of sabotage.
Later, following Hamilton’s qualifying performance in Qatar, where he was half a second slower than Russell, the surge of online criticism directed at the team escalated considerably. Wolff responded by characterizing the individuals responsible for such behavior as “idiots.”
Therefore, the decision to revisit this topic is intriguing – and potentially holds significance given the ongoing contractual discussions, in which Russell is now perceived to occupy a strong position, owing to his accomplishments throughout the current season.
George Russell, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Such unequivocally lavish commendation of Russell has been notably uncommon this season, during which Wolff has been seemingly expressing affinity for ‘Team Verstappen’.
Conversely, there will be those – particularly within the Mercedes media management – who might dismiss this perspective as a post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy, confusing correlation with causation.
Regardless, Wolff’s tribute will undoubtedly bring joy to Russell as he unwinds on a beach somewhere.
In this article
Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics
