Toto Wolff calls George Russell a 'killer' and backs him to bounce back after tough Miami weekend

Toto Wolff has labeled George Russell a "killer" behind the wheel and expressed full confidence in the Briton's ability to rebound from a challenging Miami Grand Prix weekend.

Russell finished fourth in Miami after a late pass on a damaged Charles Leclerc, while Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli claimed his third consecutive victory. The result extended Antonelli's championship lead to 20 points, with Mercedes already holding a commanding advantage in the Constructors' standings.

Why it matters:

Russell entered 2026 as a title favorite, given his experience and Mercedes' expected strong package under the new regulations. But after winning in Australia and taking sprint honors in China, he has been outperformed by Antonelli in recent races. Miami highlighted a recurring weakness: Russell admitted the circuit's smooth surface has never suited him. Wolff's public backing signals the team's belief that Russell can still fight for the championship with 18 races remaining.

The details:

• Wolff's support: "I've always said George wouldn't be a Grand Prix winner if he wasn't a killer." The team principal emphasized that Russell analyzes data and draws conclusions, and that Miami is simply a track he doesn't enjoy.
• Russell's in-race adjustments: The driver revealed he used the final 20 laps to test "drastic changes" to his driving style, differential settings, and brakes – experiments that yielded improvements. He called the weekend "no major cause for concern."
• Championship picture: Antonelli holds a 20-point lead heading to Canada. Mercedes has built a substantial constructors' cushion, reducing internal pressure but raising the stakes for Russell to close the gap.

What's next:

Russell is already looking ahead to the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, a track he expects to suit him better. Wolff dismissed early championship talk as irrelevant, saying: "It's 18 races to go, many points to score." With Mercedes' pace strong and Russell's determination evident, the intra-team battle is far from decided.