31 August 2023 , 12:55
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Toto Wolff hailed his driver line-up as the best on the Formula 1 grid after both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell penned new deals.
Hamilton's future was the more pressing issue with his previous deal running out at the end of this year. But now Mercedes have finally confirmed the future of both their British drivers ahead of this weekend's Italian Grand Prix.
By reaching an agreement with Hamilton, Mercedes have made sure to tie down a seven-time F1 world champion beyond his 40th birthday. And they have also secure the future of Russell, who they believe to be a future title-winner himself.
Speaking for the first time after the announcement, team principal Wolff made a bold declaration about his racers. He said: "Continuing with our current driver line-up was a straightforward decision. We have the strongest pairing on the grid and both drivers are playing a crucial role in the team to move us forward.
"The strength and stability they provide will be key building blocks for our future success." The Austrian went on to speak about his two drivers individually, pointing out why he felt re-signing both of them was a no-brainer.
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Wolff said: "Our partnership with Lewis is one of the most successful in the sport's history. It was always a formality that we would continue together – and it's energising for us all to be confirming that publicly. His qualities as a pure racing driver are illustrated by his remarkable track record – but, over our years together, he has grown to become a pillar and leader of our team.
"Those leadership qualities are crucial as we focus on fighting for world championships again. As F1's biggest global star, he has also played a key role in shaping our commitments to diversity, inclusion and sustainability, that will be foundations for our success in the years ahead.
"George is a leading light of his generation. He has repaid the faith we showed in him when promoting him to a race seat in 2022. His maiden pole position in Hungary and first Grand Prix victory in Sao Paulo were standout moments last season.
"As a driver, he combines razor-sharp speed with the tenacity of a true fighter. But he brings, too, an intelligence and attention to detail that will help him to continue to grow, develop and improve further. He is a natural fit to the team and we are delighted to have extended the relationship for the coming years."