Wolff identifies ‘sweet part’ of British GP as Russell still not ‘gelling with the car’

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has admitted that George Russell’s home race podium at Silverstone didn’t cover up his discomfort in the car, with the Briton enduring an unsatisfying drive to P2.

Russell struggled for pace compared to his team mate throughout the British Grand Prix weekend, as Kimi Antonelli won the Sprint and qualified on pole position while he settled for fourth place in both sessions.

An excursion into the gravel during Qualifying and lack of relative performance left him on the back foot heading into the 52-lap race, where he scrapped with Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton before capitalising on the late Safety Car to secure P2.

Talking to Sky Sports F1, Wolff reflected: “The sweet part of the day today is that I'm so happy for George and all the team because, you know, he’s had difficult weekends.

“He somehow doesn't gel with the car. We had a straight line speed problem yesterday and the day before.

“And, you know, a driver sometimes needs to feel comfortable in the car, and he doesn't. And then scoring a P2 today in Silverstone, that's something that I'm really happy for him.”

It wasn’t a straightforward day for Russell as his race was put at risk by a slow puncture, but Mercedes’ strategy played out in his favour – they opted to keep him out whilst others pitted under Safety Car conditions, allowing him to leapfrog Hamilton for second place.

Although Russell conceded that he felt he “didn't deserve to stand where I stood”, the result has brought him within 25 points of standings leader Antonelli, who failed to score at Silverstone due to car problems.

“I think he's holding on, you know,” Wolff added when asked about Russell’s role in the developing title battle. “They have both had the luck and the unluck of the year – Kimi now twice, George once.

“And the season is long. He just needs to continue to believe that he can do it. Finding, you know, those little gremlins in the car that cause him troubles at the moment.”

Looking ahead to the next double header in Belgium and Hungary, the team boss told F1 TV: “I think recalibrate, recover, we have a weekend break, and then come strong for the last two races.”