Hamilton and Russell to switch 'cycles of performance' - Wolff
Hamilton and Russell to switch 'cycles of performance' - Wolff
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes there will continue to be cycles of performance between Lewis Hamilton and George Russell as was the case last season.
Following a move from Williams after three years of serving what was effectively an apprenticeship in learning the F1 ropes, Russell was finally given his opportunity last season with Mercedes alongside Hamilton.
Given the Silver Arrows' domination of F1 over the previous eight seasons, both drivers could reasonably have expected to have had a say in last year's championship fight.
But the introduction of new aerodynamic regulations put the team on the back foot and led to it playing catch-up in terms of development.
Russell still managed to deliver consistently, scoring top-five finishes in 19 of the 22 grands prix, including six third-place finishes, a runner-up spot, and the all-important sole victory of the season for the team in the penultimate race in São Paulo.
READ MORE...Hamilton reveals key diversity barrier in motorsport
Despite that win, the 24-year-old remarked that he felt his late-season performances were not at the same level as those in the early part of the campaign.
For Hamilton, it was the reverse, as he struggled early on before finishing strongly with five second-place finishes in the last 11 races, including three in the final four.
Initially addressing Russell's concerns regarding his form, speaking to GPFans in an end-of-year interview, Wolff said: "George is always very self-critical, which is one of the assets that make him a future world champion.
"He has now been thrown into the Mercedes works team, we keep developing the car, and if you ask me now, the final results look different.
"Like at the beginning of the year, you could say George was doing very well, and then in the last third of the year, it was Lewis [Hamilton]."
Assessing how form is likely to continue to fluctuate between the two, Wolff added: "But in terms of optimum performance, we have the combination of the two best drivers, the strongest line-up.
"And therefore, we are always going to see those cycles, in my opinion between the two."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Ferrari announce DRASTIC change as Verstappen issues dire warning to bosses - GPFans F1 Recap
- 3 hours ago
Hamilton sends strong message over Gaza deaths
- Yesterday 22:57
F1 giants announce name change with IMMEDIATE effect
- Yesterday 21:57
Horner admits Red Bull at MAJOR disadvantage with new rules
- Yesterday 20:57
Horner reveals 'unhuman' Verstappen secret
- Yesterday 19:57
Sainz manager speaks out on 'game playing' over contract
- Yesterday 18:57
Related news
Hamilton car camera captures Verstappen's TRUE feelings toward F1 rival
Marko reveals Vettel requirements for stunning F1 comeback
Fierce Hamilton F1 rival raises timing issue for Ferrari move
Wolff admits CHANGE of plan over Hamilton F1 replacement
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860