Wolff amid Verstappen rumours: 'Clear picture of who the best are'

Since Hamilton's move to Ferrari, Russell has become the new face of Mercedes. And it seems to be working out excellently, as indicated by Toto Wolff's comments rejecting claims that the Briton was ever the number 2, the Austrian states to The Athletic.

This was evident in the numbers: in two of their three seasons as teammates, Russell beat Hamilton in the championship standings.

Wolff emphasizes that Russell also performs strongly in 2025 and that his performances are appreciated throughout the F1 paddock.

Although Mercedes is still linked with a possible attempt to poach Verstappen from Red Bull Racing, Wolff makes it clear that he counts Russell among the best.

“We have a pretty good understanding of who we deem as being the best ones,” he says. “And there aren’t many.”

According to Wolff, it is difficult to judge drivers purely on results, precisely because performances are often influenced by the car, stating that drivers can be “victims of the performance of the car,” he explains.

However, it is clear to him that Russell is performing at the top of his game, even in a period when Mercedes does not have the best material.

Wolff still maintains a very good relationship with Hamilton. He said that the seven-time world champion, who achieved his greatest successes with Mercedes, still often flies home with him. He even revealed that Hamilton occasionally asks him for dating advice.