Great ones recover, Wolff on Russell after latest beating

Mercedes Motorsport director Toto Wolff has reaffirmed George Russell’s unwavering support and confidence in his ability to secure Formula One championships, despite the young Italian, Kimi Antonelli, having surpassed him this season. Russell, 28, was once the frontrunner, but has only managed to win twice compared to Antonelli’s eight victories in the 14 races to date.

Nevertheless, the Briton remains second in the championship, finishing fifth at the newly inaugurated Madrid circuit. Antonelli, on the other hand, secured a victory, widening his lead in the standings to 81 points.

Wolff, speaking at the event, highlighted Russell’s past successes, including multiple karting championships, Formula Three and Formula Two victories in his rookie year, and a stint with the prestigious Williams team. “He is a top driver,” Wolff emphasized. “We need to discover what it takes for him to unleash his true potential.” The Austrian also acknowledged the psychological aspect, stating that great drivers always recover from tough periods. “George has everything he needs to fight for championships,” he reiterated.

Russell himself stated after the race that he is no longer realistically in contention for the title and has shifted his focus to securing good results in the remaining races. While it is uncommon for a driver to win eight races without clinching the championship, it has transpired in the past, and sometimes the driver with the most wins does not emerge victorious.

Wolff cautioned that it would only require two losses for Antonelli to regain the lead, but he also assured that Antonelli is well-grounded and focused on his racing career. “Kimi...is so grounded, 100% racer, not distracted by anything outside, super family situation. That’s why I see no risk he is losing the plot because he’s so dominant,” Wolff said. “I promise you that he’s not thinking about the championship.”