Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was delighted with his team’s double podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix. George Russell secured his first Formula 1 victory of the season in Montreal, while teammate Kimi Antonelli impressively finished third – the first podium for the young Mercedes talent. According to Wolff, the success was well-deserved: “It was absolutely a victory on merit.”
After a challenging start to the season, Mercedes seems to have found its way back to the top. In a race that the team controlled from start to finish, Russell crowned his strong weekend with the victory. It was also a redemption for last year’s Canadian Grand Prix, when he lost the lead from pole position to Max Verstappen. “We controlled the race the entire time,” Wolff emphasized to Sky Sports. “Russell drove brilliantly, and Antonelli didn’t buckle under pressure – even with a McLaren right behind him.”
For the first time in a long while, two Mercedes drivers were on the podium – a milestone, according to Toto Wolff. “It’s been a while since we’ve experienced that, and that’s why everyone is so thrilled,” he confirmed. “This feels like a reward for the hard work of the entire team.” The last time the German racing team had two drivers on the podium was at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year. Then too, George Russell crossed the finish line first.
Russell and Antonelli
Wolff naturally had words of praise for Russell, who has recently faced criticism following a series of unfortunate races. “George has been in Formula 1 for a few years now, but I think this result compensates for some of the bad luck and underperformance of recent times,” he said. “This is another step forward for him.” The victory in Canada should also provide Russell with a mental boost. “I think this will give him more freedom,” Wolff explained. “These kinds of results have a big impact on a driver. But he absolutely deserves it.”
Mercedes sees Kimi Antonelli’s first podium finish primarily as a team achievement, according to the team boss. “He joined our team when he was only eleven,” Wolff recalled. “I remember when he first stood in the garage. On the screens, you could barely see him — he was so small. I later remember James Allison (Mercedes’ technical director) thinking he was just a lost little boy. So, a podium finish like this is simply an amazing achievement.”
