George Russell insists relationship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is strong amid ‘external noise’ | F1 News
George Russell insists his relationship with his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff remains strong and dismisses speculation about his future with the team as “just outside noise”.
Russell is under pressure going into this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix having surprisingly fallen 20 points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli at the top of the Drivers’ Championship following back-to-back victories for the young Italian.
With Mercedes having the best-performing car at the start of the new Formula 1 rules implemented this season, Russell was considered the clear favorite for the title given his significant experience holding off 28-year-old Antonelli.
Although Russell has been consistently impressive since joining Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate in 2022, there has been speculation over his future with the team over the past few years amid Wolff’s interest in signing four-time world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull.
Asked by Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle on Thursday that his relationship with Wolff remains “strong”, Russell replied: “Yes, certainly.
“I mean, first of all, I don’t read any of that (speculation) because even a good magazine doesn’t bring anything. I just focus on myself.”
Russell’s comments came at the same time Wolff was seen having a long chat with Verstappen’s father Jos outside the Mercedes hospitality unit in the Montreal suburb.
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Martin Brundle hailed the ‘impressive’ Kimi Antonelli but believes he will have to do a lot of work to hold off Mercedes team-mate George Russell in Canada.
“We have a very close relationship,” Russell continued. “We have gone through difficult times in the last four years trying to bring Mercedes back to the top, and now we are in this position where we are both in a lucky place, fighting to win week in, week out.”
“So, all that to me is extraneous noise.”
‘Toto is very different from other club managers’
Russell secured his Mercedes seat shortly after the team sealed an eighth consecutive constructors’ title, but the Brit has had far less chance of victory than many expected his jump from Williams would bring, with Red Bull and McLaren ruling under the previous set of rules.
Throughout his time as Mercedes boss, Wolff has shown his willingness to let his drivers fight for titles, especially when Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have been in fierce competition for several seasons.
Asked by Brundle if Wolff was different from team managers who can only “love one driver at a time,” Russell said: “Toto is very different to most team managers in Formula 1.
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Toto Wolff says George Russell will never stop fighting and that a 20-point gap from teammate Kimi Antonelli will not stop him.
“I think you have seen with Lewis and Nico that he is always given an equal opportunity to both of them.
“Even if it’s me and Lewis, me and Kimi last year, Mercedes has never been a team that only brings information to one driver, they always combine it.
“And you have made it clear that equal opportunities exist. Therefore, it is up to us to organize the rest, as we should.”
Antonelli tries to ‘avoid as many distractions as possible’
Having moved from title to favorite after securing the first three wins of his career in a row, Antonelli says he is trying to avoid potential distractions with his elevated profile.
“I don’t check social media at all during race week. I try to avoid as many distractions as possible,” the 19-year-old said on Thursday.
“All I want is to try to focus more on the goal of the weekend, to focus on the program, on what I have to do.
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Having won the last three races, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is confident he can maintain his recent good form as he looks to win his first world championship.
“I know that there is a lot of anticipation now, especially after this intense incident at the beginning of the year.
“But I’m trying not to worry too much about it and not get carried away with it. I’m just trying, like I’ve done every other weekend, just trying to focus on what I have to do, and, enjoy the weekend too, enjoy the drive.
“I know if I do these things well, which are always there, a good result will appear.”
Canadian GP schedule for Sky Sports F1
Friday 22 May
1.55pm: F1 Academy Practice
3pm: F2 Practice
5pm: Canadian GP Practice One (session starts at 5.30pm)*
6.55pm: F2 Qualifying*
7.40pm: Team Managers Press Conference*
9pm: Canadian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 9.30pm)*
10.55pm: F1 Academy Qualifying*
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A look back at the worst moments caught on board at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Saturday May 23
2.40pm: F1 Academy Race 1
4pm: Canadian GP Sprint build-up
5pm: CANADIAN GP SPRINT
6.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
7pm: F2 Sprint*
8.10pm: Competency building for Canadian doctors*
9pm: CANADIAN GP QUALIFYING*
11pm: F1 Academy Race 2*
11.45pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday May 24
3.40pm: F1 Academy Race 3
5pm: F2 Feature Race
7.30pm: Canadian GP build-up: Sunday’s Grand Prix*
9pm: THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX*
11am: Canadian GP Reaction: Checkered Flag*
12am: Ted’s Book*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another Sprint weekend. Watch live on Sky Sports F1 from this Friday. Stream Sky Sports NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
