George Russell credits Toto Wolff's loyalty for Mercedes' F1 title return
Mercedes won its ninth constructors' title at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, ending a four-season lean period.
George Russell says Toto Wolff's loyalty to staff helped Mercedes return to the top of Formula 1. The team won its first constructors' title since 2021 at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Key takeaways
- Mercedes sealed its ninth constructors' title at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
- Russell said nobody was hired or fired during the difficult 2022 to 2025 period
- Wolff described Mercedes as not a hire and fire organisation
- Russell joined Mercedes in 2022
George Russell says Toto Wolff's loyalty to Mercedes staff is a major reason the team has returned to the top of Formula 1.
com reported that Mercedes won its ninth constructors' title at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, its first since the end of its run of eight in a row in 2021.
The title ends a four-season period of limited success from 2022 to 2025 as Mercedes struggled with ground effect cars. Russell joined the team in 2022.
Russell on Wolff's leadership
Speaking to media after the race at Interlagos, Russell said the team had remained trusting in its people despite the sudden drop in performance. "We have been through a lot over those years. It's been extremely tough times," he said.
"But I think something I admire a lot about Toto's leadership is that the people we have today are the same people who were there during the glory years, and they're the same people who went through the difficulties during 2022 to 2025.
" He credited everybody in the team, but gave huge credit to Toto for that loyalty and belief in the people, even when times were tough.
Wolff on stability and culture
Wolff himself was asked about stability of the team after the race at Interlagos, with the Austrian chief also pointing to the lack of staff turnover.
Stability was "certainly a factor," he said, "but we have also many people that have joined us recently, and I think what I would like to choose as a word is safety.
" He explained that Mercedes provides a culture and an environment where people can thrive, where they are allowed to make mistakes, and where they can speak up.
Wolff added that if the team wants to be successful over many decades, this is what needs to be ingrained in the team.
The difficult years and what comes next
Wolff admitted those years had been harder to live through than the results suggest. He said that looking at the results, the team finished second in two of those seasons, but it was a challenging time for the squad.
"It wasn't that bad at all when you look at the sheer numbers, but it felt not good," Wolff said. He pointed to the resilience of the team and the people that held together in those tough times as a factor.
Mercedes will aim to defend its constructors' title in the next Formula 1 season.
Mercedes constructors' titles
Titles | Period |
|---|---|
Nine | 2014 to 2026 |
Eight in a row | Until 2021 |
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