Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff is convinced that George Russell can step into the team leader role in the absence of Lewis Hamilton beyond the 2024 season.
Along with Russell, Hamilton had signed a two-year contract extension last August that appeared to commit his future to the Mercedes team until the end of 2025.
However, it was announced on Thursday that Hamilton had taken the opportunity to activate a break clause in his Mercedes deal to pen a multi-year agreement with Ferrari.
But as the search for a replacement begins internally, Wolff asserts that Russell is more than capable of filling the senior void that will be created by Hamilton’s impending exit.
“Also of course with all the Lewis discussion something that has not been talked enough is George,” Wolff told media, including Motorsport Week, on Friday morning.
“George has the potential to be the next lead driver in the team, he’s of the generation of Lando [Norris] and [Charles] Leclerc and some of the others, and I couldn’t wish for a new team leader when Lewis leaves, no doubt about that, so we have such a solid foundation such a, quick and talented and intelligent guy in the car that we just need to take the right choice for the second driver, the second seat.
“That’s not something I want to be rushed in,” he added.
After spending three years with Williams, Russell was promoted to the works Mercedes squad in 2022 and outscored Hamilton as well as logging its only win.
However, the Briton endured what he labelled as “one of the worst seasons of my career” last term as he trailed five places and 59 points behind his experienced team-mate.
Nevertheless, Russell still managed to match Hamilton for speed over a single lap and Wolff believes his skillset won’t force Mercedes to rush a decision on his partner.
“Having George in the seat is great for the team,” Wolff commented. “He’s been going toe to toe with Lewis the last two seasons. There was nothing between them and knowing that we have a driver at that level makes the decision for the second seat much more comfortable.”
Wolff has conceded that Mercedes has been stung with the timing and hinted that Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris would have been options prior to the pair agreeing long-term deals with Ferrari and McLaren respectively.
“It’s an exciting situation at the end of 2024 with some drivers becoming available, others just signed a few weeks ago so these ones would have been opportunities,” he said.
“If it was six weeks earlier, there would have been more opportunities, but it is what it is.
“But in 2025 and beyond, the driver market is very interesting and we need to look out to the future. Who is it that we can partner with George? What’s the best combo? What’s the best combination? And I think in terms of the drivers who could hopefully join, that could join, there are a variety of options.
“At that stage, I wouldn’t want to commit to this is when we’re going to do it. I want to take my time.”
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