Russell has learnt to win from Hamilton and Wolff
George Russell has revealed that he has learnt the determination to keep on winning from Lewis Hamilton and Toto Wolff.
“That’s my mindset: I want to win a F1 world championship. And when I do, I know I’ll want to win another and another … I learned that from being around Lewis and Toto.”- George Russell
With Mercedes confirming their 2026 driver line-up, Russell remains fully committed to the German team and will be joined once again by Kimi Antonelli.
Russell, who sits fourth in the World Drivers' Championship, can still mathematically claim the title, although it is highly unlikely at this stage of the season.
The Brit has revealed that it is the teachings from his team principal, Wolff and former team mate Hamilton that have shaped him into the driver we see today.
Russell discussed how being around his former teammate Hamilton opened his eyes to the art of winning.
He said: “His definition of greatness just keeps growing. But the biggest thing I learned from Lewis, I guess, is that the winning comes first. Then everything else.
“Everything else is just noise to me. I just want to perform.
“That’s my mindset: I want to win a F1 world championship. And when I do, I know I’ll want to win another and another … I learned that from being around Lewis and Toto.”
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The drive and freedom from Wolff
Russell also revealed how a conversation with Wolff a year after he signed his Mercedes contract as a junior, freed him up to just go racing when he was stressing about his future.
“The thing about Toto is, he’s so disarming. You don’t even realise how tightly you’ve got yourself wound up, until something he says makes you breathe a little easier.
“Toto literally just said to me, 'George, you perform. I’ll sort the rest.' - That was pretty simple, but I really internalised it. I’ve applied that advice to every step of my journey since. And I still am.”
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