In a rare display of admiration, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff marked George Russell’s performance in the Chinese Grand Prix with a seldom-given “perfect 10”. The Mercedes driver’s impressive drive left a mark on Wolff, who usually reserves such high praise for extraordinary feats on the race track.
On Sunday’s eventful race, Russell showed impressive resilience, finishing on the podium behind the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Despite starting on the front row, Russell lost his spot to Norris at Turn 1, a result of being squeezed towards the inside by polesitter Piastri. However, his determination saw him regain his position midway through the race, undercutting Norris for P2.
Despite a challenging race, in which Norris reclaimed his position and Russell grappled with a long brake pedal, the Mercedes driver managed to close the gap to a mere two seconds by the race’s end. Russell’s outstanding performance, extracting the maximum from his car despite the odds, earned him Wolff’s admiration.
“That was a solid afternoon’s work,” Wolff shared post-race. “A podium felt like the realistic best-case scenario for us going into the race, and that’s exactly what we accomplished. We were aware of the threat posed by the McLarens, Ferraris, and Verstappen. I don’t typically dole out 10 out of 10s, as I believe there’s always room for improvement. But George was exceptional today. He squeezed every ounce of performance from the car, earning a perfect 10 from me.”
Russell’s teammate, Kimi Antonelli, also demonstrated admirable grit, finishing within the points despite early floor damage. Antonelli’s unwavering focus and tenacity, even while wrestling with a significant performance deficit, didn’t go unnoticed by Wolff.
Despite the impediment, Antonelli managed to secure a commendable P8. Wolff appreciated his resolve, stating, “He didn’t grumble during the race, remaining focused on the task at hand – that’s exactly the attitude we appreciate.”
Reflecting on the season’s start, Wolff appeared satisfied. “It’s been a promising season opener. While our aspiration is to win, we don’t assume that victory is our entitlement. Although our car isn’t quite as speedy as the McLaren at present, we are tirelessly striving to bridge that gap.”
For Wolff and his team, leaving China second in the Constructors’ Championship, with two podium finishes from the first two races, was indeed a satisfying achievement. They will continue to maximize their performance, keeping their eyes on the prize and the accelerator on the floor.