Mercedes group boss Toto Wolff has saved George Russell ready all yr for a brand new contract. Now, after Russell mentioned “nothing’s going to occur over the summer time” contract-wise following a usually resolute efficiency on the Hungarian GP, it seems to be just like the roles have been reversed.
In that context it was fascinating to notice the phrasing of a “mid-season report” video Wolff recorded for registered followers of the Mercedes group. In opposition to a background of a rousing video montage, juxtaposed with a curiously soporific Brian Eno-style ambient music soundtrack, Wolff got here as shut as he’s ever prone to explicitly saying Russell was the sooner of his two drivers final yr.
That is noteworthy since it’s a extremely emotive subject for the fan neighborhood and subsequently harmful floor, even when the statistics largely bear it out. Whereas each drivers received two grands prix final season, Hamilton’s Spa victory was an inherited one when his team-mate was disqualified having crossed the road first on the street.
And, whereas the factors distinction was in the end negligible – Russell beat Hamilton by 245 factors to 223 – the qualifying picture was rather more one-sided. Russell outqualified Hamilton 5-1 within the dash occasions and 19-5 in grands prix, a stunning margin given Hamilton’s pre-eminence over a single lap throughout his profession.
“Once I have a look at George, the event he is made since he joined System 1 from the quick kiddo in Williams,” mentioned Wolff, “after which being drafted into Mercedes, clearly with the best of all greats, with Lewis Hamilton.
“And you have seen already final yr he began to be so sturdy on pure tempo – by way of the outcomes, the stronger driver. And now with Lewis having gone to Ferrari he is taken the senior driver slot, and it utterly got here naturally and he delivers.
“He delivers, even when the automobile shouldn’t be on the extent, he outperforms the automobile, you’ll be able to all the time depend on George. And past the driving, clearly he is additionally nice with our companions and does a whole lot of actions that assist us to construct his model and construct our model.
“So we could not want for a greater number-one driver.”
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Bryn Lennon / System 1 by way of Getty Photos
Final yr Hamilton’s struggles in qualifying naturally grew to become the subject of hypothesis on the extra absurd finish of the spectrum as weird conspiracy theories started to flow into to account for his efficiency deficit. In June an nameless e mail was circulated claiming that Hamilton was being sabotaged.
Later, when Hamilton certified half a second off Russell in Qatar, the web abuse of the group intensified right into a blizzard. Wolff responded by describing such individuals as “idiots”.
So to revisit the topic is fascinating – and probably important within the context of ongoing contractual negotiations during which Russell is now understood to have a powerful place, given his performances this season. Such unequivocally effusive reward of Russell has been comparatively uncommon this season whereas Wolff has been flirting with ‘Workforce Verstappen’.
Equally there will likely be these – notably the Mercedes media managers – who would dismiss this view as publish hoc ergo propter hoc muddling of correlation with causation.
Nonetheless, Wolff’s encomium will little doubt delight George as he places his ft up on a seashore someplace.
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