02 February 2024 , 13:18
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Toto Wolff has backed George Russell to lead Mercedes into the future and fill the void left by Lewis Hamilton.
The seven-time world champion will leave at the end of the 2024 season to join Ferrari. The blockbuster move will bring to an end Hamilton's 11-year stint with the Silver Arrows and leave Wolff with the massive task of replacing him.
Mercedes will not rush into that decision. The timing of Hamilton's announcement gives Wolff the whole upcoming season to consider his options before selecting who his team's new driver will be.
What he is already certain of, though, is that he need not worry about who will lead the team on track. Speaking in a press conference on Friday, the Austrian declared Russell ready to take on the mantle when Hamilton leaves.
He said: "Our main focus is on the 2024 season now. We have two excellent drivers, we have Lewis in his final year at Mercedes and George eager to get back in the car and perform. We need to put a car on the track that has more pace than last year's car and we know how difficult it will be to compete not only with Red Bull but also the others.
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"Also, with all the Lewis discussion, one thing that has not been talked about enough is George - George has the potential to be the next lead driver in the team. He is of the generation of Lando and Leclerc and some of the others and I couldn't wish for a [better] new team leader for when Lewis leaves, no doubt about that.
"We have such a solid foundation and a quick and intelligent guy in the car - we just need to make the right choice for the second seat. That's not something I want to rush into."
Mercedes are not short of options, but two of their better ones have already been taken off the table. Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc are among the more talented drivers on the grid, but both signed new contracts with their respective teams only last month.
Wolff hinted that, had they not done that, they would have been targets. He added: "A few contracts have been signed a few weeks ago that we would have looked at, that would have been interesting, but timing here bit us a bit.
"I always like change because it provides you with opportunity... I'm really looking forward to making the right decision for the team, with my colleagues, for who is going to be in the seat next year. Maybe it's a chance to do something bold."