Toto Wolff, the team principal of Mercedes, has expressed his satisfaction with George Russell‘s performance in the 2025 season. Despite the Silver Arrows not always having the best car on the grid, the British driver consistently performed well throughout the season. Although it took until October for Mercedes to extend Russell’s contract, Wolff believes his team is fortunate to have the Brit, stating, ‘His performances were outstanding.’
George Russell finished fourth in the 2025 drivers’ championship, making him the ‘best of the rest’ behind the three title contenders. Although the Brit did not stand on the top step of the podium as often as the top three – Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, and Oscar Piastri – he did cross the finish line first twice. In Canada and Singapore, Russell outpaced the rest of the Formula 1 field. Additionally, the Mercedes driver consistently qualified in the top six at all but one Grand Prix weekend.
Team principal Toto Wolff is therefore very pleased with the performance of his new number one driver. “His performances were truly outstanding,” Wolff praises Russell during his end-of-season review. “Especially since we (Russell and Kimi Antonelli, ed.) did not always provide a car that was easy to drive. Some weekends, the car was exceptional from the first free practice. At other times, we simply could not get the car under control; we never reached a point where the car was fast and provided a stable platform.”
However, according to Wolff, that did not seem to matter to Russell. “Usually, George managed to drive around it. His podium finishes and victories are proof of that.” The Brit ended up on the podium a total of nine times.
‘Fortunate with George’
Russell’s performance in 2025 came amidst rumors that he might lose his seat to Max Verstappen. The Brit himself fueled the rumor mill by revealing in Austria that the Dutchman was indeed in talks with Mercedes. However, the lengthy contract negotiations did not distract Russell. According to Wolff, Mercedes is fortunate to have the Brit as a driver, and his value to the Silver Arrows is clear.
“When you look at the drivers’ standings, and consider that we weren’t always at the top, the position where George finished and the points he contributed to the constructors’ championship, is something he can be proud of. We are fortunate to have him,” said Wolff. Mercedes finished second behind McLaren in the constructors’ championship in 2025.
