'Warrior' Russell is among top three drivers in F1, says Wolff

Russell has begun the new campaign with back-to-back podiums, finishing in third place at both the Australian and Chinese Grand Prix.

The Briton sits third in the drivers' championship and trails leader Lando Norris by nine points, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen just a point further ahead of Russell.

The 27-year-old is now seen as Mercedes' team leader following Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari, with the seven-time champion replaced by rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Antonelli himself has impressed, finishing fourth and sixth respectively in his first two grand prix as an F1 driver, though Wolff has been pleased by Russell's start to the season.

"I never give 10 out of 10 because I think there is always better," Wolff began. "We haven't seen the perfect race, but considering the circumstances that George had in China, it is a 10 out of 10.

"He extracted the maximum of this car, the tyres, the strategy, and it was a brilliant drive.

"All these discussions about Lewis, who is the biggest person in the sport leaving to Ferrari, is a great story, Kimi coming in as the youngest driver and the high potential, and little was said about George.

"I always said that's not right because he's one of the top drivers out there. If you want me to name three that I consider to be the top [drivers], he's absolutely among those three, if not top two, and maybe on his way to top one."

He added: "George is a warrior, in the car and outside of the car."

2025 marks George's best start ever to an @F1 season! pic.twitter.com/25tLEb0GeL

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) March 24, 2025

At the opening two races, Russell half-jokingly taunted Norris during media activities, saying he was the title favourite, perhaps to apply pressure on his compatriot.

Russell said at the season-opening race in Australia that McLaren could already start to think about the 2026 season after continuing their dominance from last year.

Oscar Piastri claimed his third career race win in Shanghai, with Norris finishing second to seal McLaren's 50th one-two in the competition.

Piastri responded by saying Russell's comments were "pretty farfetched" but Wolff backed his driver and said he is getting under the skin of the McLaren duo.

"He is rattling the cage a bit more! Based on Melbourne, that was a valid statement," he said.

"In China, we were closer and we need to analyse after a few race weekends where we are because on Saturday we would have said Ferrari's dominance is back and as great as ever, then on Sunday it was more on the underwhelming side.