Toto Wolff lays down the basic rules for George Russell at Mercedes F1

In an often slow Williams, George Russell has shown his talent by doing some fast laps this season, winning the ‘Mr. Nickname from Saturday. But for his future team boss Toto Wolff his pace is “irrelevant”, or rather it ranks back in the list of priorities.

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In Formula 1, it is usually assumed that speed is the most important factor in a driver’s performance, but things are different at Mercedes.

Toto Wolff is still a little ahead of the pace.

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“It doesn’t matter if he’s slower or faster or on a par with Lewis. He has to be a team player. With us, the team is the star, not a single member, ”said Wolff, as reported by GrandPrix.News.

Despite his promise and expectations of Russell, Wolff only expects him to blend in well with the Silver Arrows system.

What does it mean?

“That means learning.”

FILE PHOTO: Formula 1 F1 – Belgian Grand Prix – Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium – September 1, 2019 Mercedes ‘Lewis Hamilton and Williams’ George Russell before the race REUTERS / Johanna Geron / File Photo

George Russell and Mercedes get together at important times for both of them

Toto Wolff’s comments are not to be understood as warnings, but as advice.

In fact, the Austrian knows that George Russell is definitely Lewis Hamilton’s successor.

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So maybe he’s preparing the young Englishman to be mentally ready to follow in Hamilton’s big footsteps when the seven-time world champion gets out of his F1 car for the last time.

With regard to the 36-year-old Hamilton, Wolff revealed that the two of them regularly exchange ideas.

“… we both know that a Formula 1 career is a moving goal. There is no date that he has committed himself to. “

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With Hamilton, Mercedes has created a dominant era for the history books, winning seven double titles in a row.

After Formula 1 is heading in a new direction in 2022 and heralding a new era in 2026, Toto Wolff, as in the past, is preparing the Silver Arrows for a new future.

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And George Russell is a key part of that process.