Mercedes chief Wolff backs Russell after Spanish Grand Prix — TimesLIVE
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff said the team would continue to support British driver George Russell in the fight for Formula 1 titles after the Spanish Grand Prix at the new circuit in Madrid. Russell finished fifth, while his 20-year-old teammate Kimi Antonelli took victory and extended his championship lead to 81 points.
According to TimesLIVE, the 28-year-old Russell began the 2026 season as a favourite in the title fight. However, after 14 rounds, he has two wins, while Antonelli has won eight races. Despite this, the Briton is second in the drivers' standings.
Wolff calls Russell a top driver
Wolff stressed that Russell's results this season do not change his assessment of the driver's abilities. According to the Mercedes chief, the Briton won every possible title before Formula 1: karting competitions, as well as the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships in his debut seasons, after which he moved to Williams.
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“We are talking about a top driver. We need to find out what will allow him to unlock that potential. Of course, there is also a psychological aspect,” Wolff told journalists at the Madring circuit. He added that a run of poor results is a difficult test, but “great athletes recover,” and Russell has everything needed to fight for championships.
The title fight
Russell himself said after Sunday's race that he no longer considers himself a genuine title contender and will focus on good results in the remaining races of the season. At the same time, Wolff noted that two races without points for Antonelli could bring the Briton back into contention.
The Mercedes chief also expressed confidence that Antonelli would maintain his focus. Wolff described the Italian as a focused driver who is not distracted by external factors and said that he is not thinking about the championship title.
