A Mercedes has consistently avoided publicly declaring who its No. 1 driver is during the past few years, in which Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas and now George Russell were alongside Lewis Hamilton since 2013 in Formula 1. The team seeks to offer updates to both drivers in the hope of leaving them on equal terms.
Regardless of whether the Mercedes manage to attract Max Verstappen from Red Bull, hire Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz or choose to promote your protégé in F2, Andrea Kimi AntontelliRussell believes the team will maintain its equal treatment policy.
Asked if his approach within the team has changed since finding out about Hamilton’s impending departure, Russell replied: “Since the Lewis news, Lewis has been incredibly professional with the team. The working relationship with everyone within Mercedes is like nothing else. had changed.”, he revealed.
“The team has been great and given us equal opportunities. It’s always been that way since the beginning. Whenever updates are brought to the car, they go to both of us at the same time, whereas other teams go to one before the other. And it’s always like that at Mercedes.”
While much has been made about Russell’s ability to lead the team, the Briton said he expects that equality to remain unchanged, “no matter who my teammate will be.”
“They want to give both drivers the best chance to achieve the best result and going into next year, no matter who my teammate is, it will continue to be the same.”
Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff has publicly stated that Verstappen is his ‘number one choice’ for 2025, with the Dutch driver less certain of fulfilling the remainder of his Red Bull contract – which expires at the end of 2028 – given the instability surrounding team boss Christian Horner and councilor Helmut Marko.
Asked whether Verstappen could immediately join Mercedes and improve the performance of his so far inconsistent W15 opponent, Wolff told Fox Sports Australia: “No. He’s extraordinary, but we would give him a car that’s difficult to set up and drive. I’d rather take that step and say, ‘This is a car you could drive because it’s also going fast.'”
Mercedes hopes to decide on its 2025 driver line-up in the summer.
