Mercedes backs George Russell for F1 bounce-back despite ‘clock never lies’ admission
Originally published by Motorsportweek
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has backed George Russell to bounce back to form at this weekend’s Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, despite admitting “the clock never lies” amid teammate Kimi Antonelli’s blistering start to the campaign.
Russell started the year as title favourite, and duly cemented that status with a powerful win in Round 1 at Melbourne.
And despite following it up with victory in the Sprint Race in China, Antonelli won the Grand Prix – his first – and has taken victory in the next two races in both Japan and Miami respectively.
Russell, by contrast, has suffered an apparent dip in form, with second in Shanghai his best result since the Australian triumph, putting him 20 points behind Antonelli.
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It has been a demonstratively impressive turnaround from the Italian, who was ruled out to succeed in F1 during his debut season last year.
And speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, Wolff admitted that even he is shocked by the teenager’s performances.
“Absolutely [I’m surprised],” the Austrian Team Principal said.
“Last year, I often repeated, taking an 18-year-old into the team would have made us experience moments of celebration and others in which we would have liked to tear our hair out for his mistakes, but it was a necessary path to get him to know the team.
“I expected a good start, but I have to admit three wins in a row were not something we had expected.”
Wolff also conceded that Russell for a myriad of reasons, but believes that he is going to show his best form this weekend in Canada.
“What we love about this sport is that the clock never lies at the end of the race,” he said. “The clock says Kimi has deservedly won the last three GPs.
“Russell hasn’t done as well, in some cases due to team problems, bad luck, and in Miami due to his own mistakes.
“That said, we know George’s value and we know he’ll return, starting from Canada, very competitive and ready to make life difficult for his opponents.”
Russell won the race in Montreal last year, with Antonelli taking his first podium finish in this place.
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