13/05/2025 17:15
George Russell has emerged from the shadow of Lewis Hamilton at
Mercedes this season, according to Toto Wolff. The team principal
of the Brackley-based squad feels the former has "massively stepped
up" in the wake of the seven-time F1 drivers' champion leaving for
pastures new at Ferrari. Underscoring how different the "dynamic"
at Mercedes is now, having brought in highly-touted rookie Kimi
Antonelli to partner Russell, Wolff has been effusive in his praise
of the three-time grand prix winner all campaign. The Briton has
been one of the stand-out performers, clinching four podium
finishes from the opening six rounds and remaining in touch of the
drivers' championship fight, despite battling in lesser machinery
to the front-running McLaren drivers. When asked if the atmosphere
in the Mercedes garage was different following Hamilton's
departure, Wolff confirmed it was not - and took the opportunity to
highlight what as changed, including Russell. "No, I wouldn't say
so," the Austrian told media including RacingNews365 . "Lewis was
part of the family. As a racing driver, he knew exactly what he
wanted and the engineers and mechanics knew him. He knew them. We
got along. You have good days, bad days, strengths and weaknesses.
"But when you know someone that well, it's easy to manage that. Now
the dynamic is different. George has massively stepped up as a
senior driver in the team. "Kimi is almost like the young brother
that's come in. They work well together, which is very pleasing to
see. Kimi doesn't stress too much, he's just building up
constantly. "And on George, you can rely on him when it comes to
lap times and racing. So spirits are high." stepping out the
'shadow' of Hamilton In extension of Russell being only 38 points
adrift of Oscar Piastri in the championship equation, it has been
widely contended how he has evolved off the track this year, as
Wolff emphasised, as well as on. Despite the driver himself denying
he has made a significant step forward, his boss sees a different
Russell, now he has assumed a leadership role at the eight-time
constructors' champions, something that has enabled him to step out
of his former team-mate's shadow. "I think it becomes so obvious,
when a seven-time world champion leaves the team which he was with
for 12 years, George, who like everyone has always been a little
bit in the shadow of Lewis, is now the one giving direction," the
53-year-old replied when asked in what areas Russell has stepped
up. "He's the one you can rely on when it's: 'George, where's the
pace of the car?', and that is important. That is what we do."
