Wolff Hits Back at Marko Over Russell Comments as Title Race Nears End

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has hit back at former Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko after Marko dismissed George Russell's chances of ever recovering from being overshadowed by teammate Kimi Antonelli. Marko told Sky Germany ahead of Sunday's United States Grand Prix that Russell was no longer the team's number one driver and doubted he would ever get another chance at a world title. Wolff, speaking at the Circuit of the Americas, said he respected Marko's opinion but believed it was wrong. He argued that the car has not suited Russell this season and that the Briton's difficult start to the year, when he arrived as the bookmakers' favourite only to watch his teenage teammate take control, has been hard to cope with. Given a quick car, Wolff insisted, Russell has everything needed to win a championship. The numbers underline how far the balance has shifted inside Mercedes. Antonelli leads Russell by 123 points with five races remaining after his ninth win of the season in Austin, and needs only a ninth-place finish in Mexico City this weekend to clinch his first world title. Russell, who finished eighth in Austin after a five-second penalty, has three wins this year. Wolff also pointed to Russell's record before Formula 1, when he won junior titles in back-to-back rookie seasons, as proof that the ability has not gone away. For Russell, the final races of 2026 now offer a chance to answer Marko on the track rather than in words.