Toto Wolff salutes George Russell’s perfect drive in China, calling it one of the most complete performances of his Mercedes career.
Two races, two podiums — Mercedes is off to a strong start in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Team Principal Toto Wolff was especially impressed after the Chinese Grand Prix, awarding George Russell a rare “10 out of 10” for what he called a flawless performance.
The fans, too, had their say, voting Kimi Antonelli as Driver of the Day.
Russell started on the front row but was overtaken by Lando Norris into Turn 1. He fought back to reclaim second mid-race, but Norris ultimately pulled away thanks to the raw pace of his McLaren MCL39. In the closing laps, brake issues slowed Norris down, allowing Russell to close the gap to under two seconds at the finish line.
“It was a solid afternoon of racing in China,” said Wolff. “A podium was probably the best realistic result we could hope for, and that’s exactly what we achieved. We knew McLaren would be strong, and both Ferrari and Verstappen were always going to be a threat.”
Wolff had high praise for both his drivers.
“I don’t often hand out a 10/10 — I usually think there’s always room to improve — but George was absolutely faultless today. He got everything out of the car. For me, it was a textbook drive. He’s had a brilliant start to the season and is doing exactly what we expect from a lead driver.”
Antonelli’s race was less straightforward. A damaged floor on the opening lap seriously affected his car’s performance. Despite that, he kept his head down and battled through to finish eighth on track — which later became sixth after the Ferraris were disqualified.
“Kimi never complained once. He stayed focused, gave it everything, and that’s exactly what we want to see.”
After two races, Mercedes sits second in the Constructors’ Championship — and Wolff is cautiously optimistic.
“Overall, it’s a strong start. Of course, our goal is to win, but we’re not acting like we’re entitled to it. The McLaren is clearly quicker right now, but we’re working hard to close that gap. For now, we’re maximizing what we have — and two podiums from two races is something to be proud of.”
Antonelli Denied Battle With Ferrari and Verstappen
Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin, echoed Wolff’s sentiment.
“We’re really happy to get our second podium with George this year,” he said. “Losing a spot at Turn 1 gave McLaren the upper hand, and realistically, third place was the best we could do. We knew Ferrari and Verstappen were coming, so it was a relief to see we had the pace to stay ahead.”
As for Antonelli, Shovlin confirmed his early damage came from contact with debris — likely from Leclerc’s front wing — on lap one. That setback ruled out any chance of him challenging the front runners.
“It’s a shame. Without that damage, Kimi would’ve loved racing with the Ferraris and Verstappen. Still, we’re pleased he brought home points.”
Looking ahead, Shovlin is encouraged by what he’s seen so far.
“It’s our best season start in three years. The car’s working well across different conditions, and while there’s always room to improve, we’re motivated and excited for what’s ahead. McLaren’s fast, no doubt, but we’re not backing down.”
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Russell Shines as Wolff Hands Out Rare Perfect Score
Russell Shines as Wolff Hands Out Rare Perfect Score
