Wolff: "Young drivers are easily criticised"

"Winning world titles in Formula 1 is about making as few mistakes as possible. And that only comes with routine and experience," Wolff is quoted as saying by Motorsport.com. Mercedes therefore wants to bring Russell in quietly and give him time to develop and learn.

Wolff senses a trend of talented drivers being treated more and more harshly in the media in recent years, especially when they are competing for podium places, for example.

"Young drivers are quick to criticise when they make mistakes in the environment of a top team, where there is a lot of pressure on their shoulders. That's why it's important to learn from experiences like Imola to become a driver who can consistently perform at a high level."

At Imola, Russell crashed behind the safety car on Sunday. The young driver was set for a points finish and that made the grapes even more sour than they already were. Russell is preparing for his third consecutive season with Williams. The chance that he will replace Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes next year is very high.