Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff: Here’s what he says about Russell’s World Championship defeat

In Mexico, joy and heartbreak were side by side in the Mercedes pit. Whilst Kimi Antonelli was celebrating winning the World Championship title, his team-mate George Russell had to swallow a bitter defeat. The Briton had been the main rival to the youngest-ever champion in the battle for the World Championship crown. He was understandably disappointed after the World Championship race in Mexico City.

Team principal Toto Wolff knows that Russell gave his all to secure the overall victory this year. Speaking about the new champion’s team-mate, he says: “George is, of course, deeply disappointed. He’s very hard on himself, but he’s driven at an incredibly high level this season and has once again demonstrated the qualities we’ve come to expect from him.”

And the Viennese admits: “There were circumstances beyond his control that didn’t always go in his favour. Furthermore, we didn’t always provide him with a car that allowed him to perform to his full potential. Nevertheless, the way he kept fighting and contributed to the team says a great deal about him.”

Focus is on the Constructors’ Championship

Looking back, there are also kind words from the boss for world champion Antonelli: “The weekend in Mexico was something very special for Kimi and the team. Winning the World Championship is an incredible achievement, particularly at this stage of his career, and he fully deserves this moment.”

Now, however, the ambitious Austrian is looking ahead to the next showdown in São Paulo: “Our focus, however, is already on the next race. We started this season with the aim of fighting for both world championship titles, and we still intend to achieve that. The Constructors’ Championship is all about the performance of the entire organisation, both at the circuit and in Brackley and Brixworth. Winning it would be something very special for all of us.”

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“However, nothing has been won yet,” warns Wolff. “Interlagos is always a demanding weekend, and there’s hardly any room for error. We need to put in a strong performance right from the first session to put ourselves in the best possible position to secure both titles this season,” he adds.