Why Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has no doubts about his Formula 1 driver George Russell and how he assesses Lewis Hamilton’s title chances
George Russell is in one of the best cars of the 2023 Formula 1 season, but only comes eighth in the world championship and loses the team duel against Lewis Hamilton to boot. Will Mercedes think differently about him as a result?
In his first year as a Mercedes driver in 2022, Russell had presented himself very differently against Hamilton and inflicted only the third team duel defeat ever on the seven-time Formula 1 world champion. Previously, Hamilton had only lost to Jenson Button (2011) and Nico Rosberg (2016), but otherwise always fared better than his team-mate.
However, in an interview with the Telegraph, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff now says that Russell “absolutely lived up to expectations” in the 2023 season and will not be counted out. On the contrary: “George is our future,” assures Wolff.
His reasoning: “When I look at the young men among the current Formula 1 drivers, he is the one I want in the car.” However, Wolff is not more specific at this point
Wolff still believes in Hamilton’s possible eighth title
On the other hand, the Mercedes team boss is all the clearer about whether Hamilton could succeed in winning the Formula 1 world championship record for the eighth time. “The answer is clearly yes, but in capital letters,” says Wolff.
“There is a reason why Lewis is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion. He has broken all records. His skills are on a completely different level. “
“If we manage to give him a car that he can feel, that he can trust, then he will get back to the level he needs to win the championship,” says Wolff.
Age doesn’t matter according to Wolff
At 39, Hamilton is the second oldest driver in the field after Fernando Alonso (42), but that doesn’t matter, continued the Mercedes team boss: “39 is not an age.”
Self-confidence is the most important thing: “You always have to believe that it’s possible. You can’t go into the season with the attitude that it won’t work anyway,” says Wolff.
“We’ve seen at McLaren how big the step can be with just one update. So yes, I think it is possible.”
In the current contract situation, Hamilton still has two chances: both he and Russell have extended their contracts with Mercedes for two years up to and including 2025. What happens after that is still open
