Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has candidly conceded that George Russell was the better driver than Lewis Hamilton last season for the team in Formula 1.
2024 was Hamilton’s swansong with the Brackley-based squad after 12 years together, racking up six Drivers’ and eight Constructors’ titles from 2013 onwards.
And on paper, the 40-year-old’s final season with the Silver Arrows was littered with standout performances, including wins at the British and Belgian Grands Prix, respectively.
That said, taking the whole season into perspective, Russell did have the legs over the seven-time World Champion.
Not only did the 27-year-old outscore Hamilton, but he also had more than the measure of the Briton on one-lap pace, out-qualifying him comprehensively by a margin of 19-5.
Looking back, Wolff was pretty candid in admitting that Russell was in fact the “stronger driver” out of the duo.
“When I look at George, the development he’s made since he joined Formula 1 from the fast kiddo in Williams, and then being drafted into Mercedes, clearly with the greatest of all greats, with Lewis Hamilton,” Wolff said in a video Mercedes published.
“And you’ve seen already last year he started to be so strong on pure pace – in terms of the results, the stronger driver.
“And now with Lewis having gone to Ferrari he’s taken the senior driver slot, and it completely came naturally and he delivers.”
George Russell is in no rush to agree a new Mercedes deal
Wolff hints at positive Russell contract negotiations
Wolff’s flurry of praise for the 27-year-old comes interestingly amid a prolonged period of negotiations with Russell for a race seat with the team in 2026 and beyond.
As things stand, neither party has put pen to paper. And the Briton has admitted that his contract situation with the team is not going to change over the summer break either.
Coming into the break, rumours had intensified that Wolff was looking to sign a disillusioned Max Verstappen from Red Bull, further drawing question marks over Russell’s future.
But with the Dutchman committing himself to the Milton Keynes-based squad until at least the end of 2026, it looks more than likely that Russell will continue with Mercedes alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the time being.
It might be that the Austrian’s open adulation of Russell is setting up an announcement about his contract extension sooner rather than later.
“He delivers, even when the car is not on the level, he outperforms the car, you can always count on George,” continued Wolff.
“And beyond the driving, obviously he’s also great with our partners and does a lot of activities that help us to build his brand and build our brand.
“So we couldn’t wish for a better number-one driver.”
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