Wolff may lose Russell to a competitor in F1 - Schumacher
"I believe Toto will eventually have to make a decisive move."
If Toto Wolff isn’t cautious, he risks losing one of the finest drivers in Formula 1. This is the cautionary message from former F1 driver and now expert analyst Ralf Schumacher, who, while describing George Russell as "a bit dull," also reveals his admiration for him. Schumacher shared with Sky Deutschland his respect for the way Russell confronted F1’s typical aggressor, Max Verstappen, during the safety car period in Canada.
"He demonstrated to Max, 'I can do that too,' even though I don’t believe it truly fits his style. I actually think Verstappen would have executed it more gracefully. But he made it clear, 'Be careful, Max. I’m also someone who is determined to win at all costs.'"
Schumacher believes Russell has performed "everything correctly" thus far in 2025, yet his team principal Wolff seems to be keeping the door ajar for Verstappen in 2026. "At some point, I think Toto will need to take action; otherwise, others will pursue Russell," he foresees. "The dynamics in Formula 1 are extremely quick.
"I’ve heard whispers of other competitive teams wanting to acquire drivers last year. Unfortunately, it has become somewhat common for contracts to be bought out, which is why I consider Russell one of the most sought-after candidates for teams still in search of top-tier drivers."
Indeed, Russell will be a free agent at the season's end, despite both Wolff and Schumacher acknowledging the 27-year-old as the "team leader" from behind the wheel. Another former F1 driver, Christijan Albers, boldly claims that if Russell were competing with McLaren, he would be leading the drivers' world championship. "Regardless of opinions, he is incredibly consistent," the Dutchman stated to De Telegraaf. "He is always present."
Journalist Erik van Haren inquired if Albers genuinely rates Russell higher than both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, to which he responded: "Yes, and (Charles) Leclerc as well. Just slightly behind Max, but ahead of Piastri and Norris."
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