Russell warned: Ex-Mercedes F1 champion 'exposes' Wolff's 'horrible' behaviour

12:02, 30 Jul

byNorberto Mujica

Former F1 Mercedes champion, Nico Rosberg, has outlined a particular Toto Wolff 'horrible' behaviour, that may have put George Russell on the back foot at the German team.

Rosberg, currently an analyst for Sky Sports F1, was a Mercedes driver himself for seven seasons (2010-2016), taking the world drivers' championship after a year-long fierce battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Russell's contract is expiring at the end of the current Formula One season, but the renewal of the partnership between the Briton and the German team has not yet been finalised, and Rosberg believes he has an idea as to why that is.

George Russell crossed the finish line in P5 at the 2025 Formula One Belgian Grand Prix

'Wolff disappears, he's horrible to negotiate with'

“Toto’s horrible to negotiate with," said Rosberg categorically during Sky Sports F1's broadcast of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend. "Because his tactic is to disappear,” he explained.

“So when you try… like George now, he’s trying to get hold of him, Toto will disappear."

"George will be trying to write Toto to get him [to get] a move on, or whatever, and Toto disappears."

Robesrg suffered in contract negotations with Wolff

“By the way, this is not a fact," he clarified. "This is just me making it [the Wolff-Russell scenario, ed.9), up."

Earlier this week it was reported that a deal between both parties was almost done with some minor details still left to be agreed upon.

"But I remember from my time that was his style, just like disappearing, not answering, being hard to reach… and it’s horrible, because you’re like, ‘come on!’", the German bemoaned recalling his Mercedes past.

“You have nothing, you have no chance… do whatever you can; you need to find a way to cross paths.”