F1 veteran questions Wolff's Mercedes plan

Ex-Formula 1 team owner has cast doubt on Toto Wolff's suggestion that George Russell is ready to become Mercedes' lead driver.

Lewis Hamilton has been the senior man at the team for a number of years now, but Mercedes have been forced to enact their succession plan thanks to Hamilton's announcement that he'll leave for Ferrari at the end of the season.

The Brackley-based team have been linked with several drivers, including Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, as well as exciting prospect Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Since Hamilton announced his exit, Wolff has had high praise for Russell, who managed to beat the seven-time champion in his first season with Mercedes in 2022 by 35 points, as well as claiming the team’s latest win in the sport in Brazil.

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Jordan questions Wolff's Russell claims

“Let’s be honest, George Russell has won one grand prix,” he explained. “Do I think he can be a World Champion next year or the year after?

“I just think that Lewis had too much on him.

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“When Lewis didn’t quite have the car that he wanted at the beginning of the year, George was able to drive around that.

“Lewis didn’t bother because… not that he didn’t bother, but he just didn’t feel that the car was good enough to be able to do the job.

“But, nevertheless, as the season progressed, Lewis got his mojo together. And he made us all look up and say, ‘Hmm, maybe Lewis still has it.’

“And I think that because of the change in fortune, that’s why he went to Ferrari.”

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