Mercedes, the team barely saved their pride with George Russell’s maiden win last year. However, they are still being optimistic about the 2023 Formula One world championship win. One year might go in vain due to a lack of experience with the ground floor effects, but another year cannot remain experienceless. After the defeat of 21 races, Toto Wolff has got some lessons, never to take the new rules for granted. They indeed did not leave a single chance to make the W13 better, but somehow, there was a lack of adaptation. And thus, the team had to break the streak of winning the constructor’s championship eight times.
However, with the “best drivers lineup,” Mercedes can again rebuild itself, as claimed by Toto Wolff. Well, Lewis Hamilton does not need a definition for how he can be counted as the best one on the grid. On the other hand, the ex-Williams driver, George Russell, also proved last year that he is capable of winning the championship with a perfect car. When even Lewis Hamilton failed to secure his dignity due to the porpoising W13 car, George the newcomer won a race saving Mercedes from going winless with that same porpoising car; he must have got something, right?
Toto Wolff Knows George Russell Is The Future World Champion
Believing in the Mercedes driver’s qualities, the boss is sure that in 2023 the final result will be different. In an interview with GP fans, Toto Wolff expressed what he feels about the 24-year-old Mercedes driver who joined the dream team when it was dealing with hard times. Wolff said, “Russell is always very self-critical, and this asset of his makes him a future Formula One world champion.” Wolff believes that Mercedes has given the best platform to George. It is the team that always keeps developing their car. Toto said, “If you ask me now, the final [2023 championship] results look different.”
In addition, Toto Wolff explained that at the beginning of the 2022 season, the Briton was doing very well. And when you go watch the results of the third last season of 2022, you will find that Lewis was back on his form. However, “in terms of performance, Mercedes have a combination of the two best drivers. We have the strongest lineup.” Looking at the stats, we can say that George Russell did better than Lewis in the driver’s standings. The 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix winner defeated Hamilton by 34 points, while he could not even finish under the top five contenders.
Despite All Possibilities Of Conflicts Between Russell And Hamilton, Wolff Won’t let It Happen
With these variations in the pair’s performance, one may find it possible for them to have conflicts soon. As the team has a history also, in 2016, Nico Rosberg’s win probably became the reason for the disputes between the drivers, which paved the way for Valtteri Bottas in the team. He could not ever beat hamilton on the track. And so no conflicts occurred. But Russell already became one of the three teammates who has defeated the seven-time world champion. So, as they say, history might repeat itself, however, Toto Wolff does not think so!
Nevertheless, Toto Wolff has admitted that he will never let anything come into Hamilton and Russell’s relationship. Mercedes’s principal believes that both Lewis and George have mutual respect for each other. He said, “the pair recognize the other’s performance. And that is a good constellation.” Toto explained that a good dynamic between teammates depends on how the team manages things. The framework that Mercedes set for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will never generate conflict between them. Toto Wolff said, “I would never allow any conflict. I have never allowed that either.”
