Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff couldn’t be prouder of his driver George Russell. The Brit drove a commendable race to third place in Shanghai, thus securing valuable points for the German team. Wolff is pleased with the performance of his ‘warrior’, and regrets that Russell’s race was overshadowed.
George Russell can look back with satisfaction on his weekend in Shanghai. The Brit secured a podium finish for the second time this season, thereby earning valuable points for Mercedes. Russell himself referred to the Chinese Grand Prix weekend as his ‘best weekend in Formula 1’. Team boss Toto Wolff is more than satisfied with the results of the ‘warrior’.
“George is a warrior in and out of the car,” Wolff proudly told Viaplay. “I normally never give a race a ten, because there is always room for improvement. We haven’t seen the perfect race yet. But considering the circumstances in which George drove in Shanghai, this was definitely a ten. He got everything out of the car, the tires, and the strategy. It was a brilliant performance.”
Praise
Russell started second in the Chinese race, but Lando Norris overtook his compatriot in the first round. The Mercedes driver was then not much in the picture, much to Wolff’s disappointment. “Not much was said about George,” the team boss complains. “I’ve always found that wrong, because he is one of the best drivers on the grid.”
“If you ask me to name three drivers I consider the best in the field, he is definitely one of those three,” Wolff continues his praise. Therefore, it does not seem that Russell, whose contract expires at the end of the season, needs to worry about his future. “George is a Mercedes driver, a homegrown talent. We should be proud of that, and I take that into account in my considerations.”
