Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Toto Wolff has rejected Helmut Marko’s suggestion that George Russell will not be able to win a Formula 1 championship, insisting his driver has all the ability required to fight for the title in the future despite a difficult 2026 campaign.
Russell has been comprehensively beaten by young teammate Kimi Antonelli this season, with the Italian needing just two points from this weekend's Mexican Grand Prix to wrap up the title.
Speaking earlier in the weekend, former Red Bull man Marko said: “Russell is no longer the number one driver. Antonelli has quite clearly taken that spot from him. I doubt whether he’ll ever have another chance at the world title or be given number one status anywhere.”
Following the United States Grand Prix, where Russell finished eighth and Antonelli took victory, Wolff hit back at his "Austrian not so buddy" and argued that the Brit can still win the title for Mercedes.
Wolff: Marko is wrong about Russell
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Photo: Race Pictures
Speaking to the media, including GPblog, after Sunday's race in Austin, Wolff said that Red Bull's former motorsport advisor is wrong about Russell.
“He’s my Austrian not so buddy, but I respect his opinion. But I think he’s wrong on George," Wolff said. "George has all the ability. I think the car doesn't suit him."
The Mercedes team principal acknowledged that Russell may have found it difficult to manage expectations this season. Wolff said the Briton began the campaign believing it could be his year, only to face a strong challenge from Antonelli on the other side of the garage.
“At the beginning of the season, it’s maybe difficult to cope with a situation where you feel this is your year, and then you have a wunderkind on the other side who starts to chip away,” Wolff said..
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“In a new season, if we provide him with a quick car, it’s absolutely possible. He has what it takes to win a championship. So I think it's it's a bit too easy to say let’s forget all those years where he won in F2 and F3, and his rookie years and the European championships back-to-back in karting’. That’s still there,” Wolff said.
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