Wolff: George doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.

      Mercedes drivers took the top two spots in the Saturday practice session at the Red Bull Ring – the results of the session were commented on by Toto Wolff, the head of the Stuttgart manufacturer's factory team.

      Toto Wolff: "When you climb to the very top of the protocol, it’s always nice. I believe the car is really good, although there were some vibrations at first, but we made certain changes, and it got better. Now we will prepare for qualifying.

      However, everything can change very quickly, as Lewis Hamilton was very fast today, so we can't relax – sometimes that’s good too. We need to continue working with the car and eliminate the technical issues that have hindered us this season. The chances of malfunctions are always at 50 percent; sometimes it’s related to overheating, sometimes something breaks, but it’s impossible to predict."

      When Wolff was asked to confirm that the team lineup would remain unchanged in 2027, he only stated that he was satisfied with both of his drivers but added a few words about George Russell, who showed the best time in practice:

      "In Formula 1, you need perseverance and belief in your abilities, and George possesses both of these qualities. His entire career has been a series of successes and failures. But if a driver is really fast, he will always be able to showcase his talents and win. That’s why we invited Kimi Antonelli to the team, and George is just as fast. He doesn’t need to prove to anyone that he has speed and talent – and we know that."