George Russell has insisted his relationship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff remains strong and treats speculation about his future with the team as “just outside noise”.
Russell is under pressure heading into this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix a surprising 20 points behind teammate Kimi Antonelli for the drivers’ championship lead after the Italian teenager’s third straight win.
With Mercedes having the strongest performing car at the start of the new Formula 1 regulations implemented this season, Russell was considered the favorite for the title given the 28-year-old’s significant experience advantage over Antonelli.
Despite Russell’s consistently impressive performances since joining Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate in 2022, there has been intermittent speculation about his future at the team over the past few years, with Wolff interested in signing four-time world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull.
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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was spotted chatting with Jos Verstappen in the paddock as speculation continues about son Max’s future at Red Bull.
questioner Sky Sports F1 Asked whether Martin Brundle’s relationship with Wolff is still “strong”, Russell said: “Yes.
“What I mean is, first of all, I don’t read that stuff at all, because even positive press doesn’t really bring anything. I just focus on myself.”
Russell’s comments came at the same time Wolff was seen having a lengthy conversation with Verstappen’s father, Joss, outside Mercedes’ hospitality suite in the Montreal paddock.
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Martin Brundle has praised ‘impressive’ Kimi Antonelli but believes he will need a big performance to hold off Mercedes team-mate George Russell in Canada.
“We have a very close relationship,” Russell said. “We have gone through difficult moments over the last four years to get Mercedes back to the top, and now we are both in a fortunate position and fighting for wins every week.
“I see. To me, it’s all just outside noise.”
‘Toto is very different from other team bosses’
Russell earned his Mercedes seat shortly after the team won their eighth successive constructors’ title, but the Briton had far fewer chances of victory than he had expected to leapfrog from Williams with Red Bull and McLaren dominating under the old rules.
During his time as Mercedes chief, Wolff has demonstrated his determination to keep his drivers competing for the title, most notably when Hamilton and Nico Rosberg engaged in a fierce duel over several seasons.
Asked by Brundle whether Wolff was different from team principals who can only “love one driver at a time”, Russell said: “Toto is very different from a lot of team bosses in Formula 1.
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Toto Wolff says George Russell will never stop fighting and the 20-point gap over team-mate Kimi Antonelli will not hinder him.
“I think what we’ve seen is that Louis and Nico have always given equal opportunities to both of them.
“Even when Lewis and I, Kimi and I did it last year, Mercedes was never a team that only gave updates to one driver, they always brought them together.
“And he made it clear that there is equal opportunity, so it’s up to us to sort the rest out.”
Antonelli tries to ‘avoid as many distractions as possible.’
Antonelli, who has gone from title outsider to favorite after three consecutive wins in his career, says he is trying to avoid any potential distractions due to his increased profile.
“I don’t look at social media at all during race week. I try to avoid as many distractions as possible,” the 19-year-old said Thursday.
“All I want to do is focus as much as possible on my goals for the weekend and focus on the process and what I have to do.
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Having won the last three races, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli is confident he can maintain his recent good form as he seeks to win his first world championship.
“I know expectations are very high, especially after our strong start to the year.
“But I try not to worry too much and not get too carried away. Just like any other weekend, I just try to focus on what I have to do, enjoy the weekend, and enjoy the drive.
“I know that if I do these things well, I will get good results at every moment.”
Sky Sports F1 Canadian GP Schedule
Friday May 22nd
1.55pm: F1 Academy practice
3pm: F2 practice
5:00 PM: Canadian GP Practice One (session starts at 5:30 PM)*
6:55 PM: F2 Qualifying*
7:40 PM: Team Boss Press Conference*
9:00 PM: Canadian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 9:30 PM)*
10.55pm: F1 Academy Qualifying*
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Take a look back at some of the wildest moments captured on onboard cameras at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Saturday, May 23
2.40pm: F1 Academy Race 1
4 p.m.: Building the Canadian GP sprint
5 p.m.: Canadian GP Sprint
6:30 PM: Ted’s sprint notes
7pm: F2 Sprint*
8:10 PM: Preparing for Canadian GP qualifying*
9 p.m.: Canadian GP Qualifying*
11pm: F1 Academy Race 2*
11:45 PM: Ted’s Qualifying Laptop*
Sunday May 24th
3.40pm: F1 Academy Race 3
5pm: F2 Feature Race
7:30 p.m.: Build-up to the Canadian GP: Sunday Grand Prix*
9 p.m.: Canadian Grand Prix*
11 a.m.: Canadian GP reaction: checkered flag*
12:00 AM: Ted’s Note*
*Applies to Sky Sports main event as well
Formula 1 heads to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another sprint weekend. Watch live on Sky Sports F1 from this Friday. Stream Sky Sports NOW – No Commitment, Cancel Anytime
