Toto Wolff to steer Lewis Hamilton George Russell "dynamic" in the right direction

Mercedes

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Wolff to steer Hamilton Russell "dynamic" in the right direction

Russell partners Hamilton at Mercedes for the first time this year

Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

Sunday 6 March 2022 09:30 Updated: 13:02

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff will attempt to steer the new team dynamic with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell "in the right direction".

Russell has graduated through the Mercedes junior ranks and earned his spot alongside seven-time champion with three progressively impressive years at the back of the grid with Williams, as well as a stellar cameo with the Silver Arrows in Bahrain in 2020.

The 24-year-old follows in the footsteps of Nico Rosberg and Valtteri Bottas in joining Hamilton at Mercedes, with the relationships enjoyed between the two pairings vastly different.

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Put to him that the team has had a lead and wingman driver in recent years and asked if Hamilton and Russell would be allowed to race, Wolff insisted: "We've never had a situation of one and two.

"They've had equal opportunities and the same car.

"This year, the interesting situation we have with George, is an up-and-coming star, and undoubtedly, the best Formula 1 driver ever in the other seat.

"The dynamic is new and clearly is something we will try steer in a direction that it has the most effect on developing the car and making us overall competitive."

F1 is racing to radically altered technical regulations this year in the hope of promoting a more exciting spectacle of racing.

Addressing the prospects of more overtaking and closer battles, Wolff conceded: "The truth is, I have no idea.

"The concept of aerodynamics is fundamentally different to what we have known and only when we race each other will see if it has become easier.

"Whoever predicts at this stage that overtaking is going to be easier is bold."