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Toto Wolff has declared that George Russell was “the stronger driver” at Mercedes in Lewis Hamilton’s ultimate season with the crew.
Final yr, 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 ultimate yr at Mercedes after he advised the crew he was leaving to finish a blockbuster change 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.
“After I have 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 yr he began to be so sturdy on pure tempo – by way of 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 just isn’t 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 plenty 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 received’t signal new Mercedes deal but
Russell has revealed he won’t signal his new Mercedes contract extension throughout the summer season 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 Pink Bull for 2026.
Russell insists he has “nothing to be frightened about” concerning his future and desires to completely change off from F1 throughout the valuable three-week break.
“Nothing’s going to occur over summer season as a result of, actually, I simply wish to have a relaxation and recharge and are available again stronger for the second half of the yr,” Russell advised 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 means now. So it’s going to occur when it would occur.
“I am 27 now, I have been with the crew for 4 years. Subsequent yr can be my fifth. We wish to construct the connection collectively, but it surely’s received to be proper and I do not wish 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 true.”
Wolff advised media together with Crash.internet in Budapest that Russell has “good playing cards” to play with in negotiations given his sturdy type.
“He’s delivered since 2018, there wasn’t a season he wasn’t there,” Wolff stated. “Nothing modified that in our considering for subsequent yr, so simply since you do not discuss exterior doesn’t suggest that issues aren’t progressing in a means they need to internally.
“With regards to the contract, let’s examine. We are going to come out and see what sort of time period we have now put ahead, however positively his standing within the crew is robust, he has proven it at the moment once more.”
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