Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has strongly dismissed controversial suggestions from former Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko claiming that George Russell's career at the top is effectively over after losing the intra-team battle.
The 2026 Formula 1 season brought a front-running car for Mercedes under the completely overhauled regulations, but the championship narrative quickly shifted towards rising star Kimi Antonelli, who dominated the opening rounds.
While Antonelli cruised to consecutive victories and is on the verge of clinching the world title at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Russell struggled with handling limitations and reliability setbacks, putting his runner-up spot in jeopardy.
Following the United States Grand Prix, Helmut Marko asserted that Russell has permanently lost his number-one status and will unlikely ever get another shot at the world championship against his young teammate.
According to Motorsport.com, Wolff firmly rejected those assertions, stating: Helmut, he's my Austrian not-so-buddy, but I respect his opinion. But I think he's wrong on George. George has all the ability. I think the car doesn't suit him.
The Mercedes team principal emphasized that writing off a proven winner who dominated junior categories is foolish, maintaining full confidence that Russell can bounce back strongly next season with a machine tailored to his strengths.
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