Toto Wolff is refusing to give George Russell the ‘TLC’ he gave Lewis Hamilton

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Toto Wolff’s treatment of Lewis Hamilton sharply contrasts with his recent comments about George Russell at Mercedes.

In the heat of the moment after retiring from the Belgian Grand Prix on the opening lap, Russell called Mercedes’ issues ‘unacceptable’. He claimed to have been facing a straight-line speed deficit to teammate Kimi Antonelli all weekend.

Russell had first raised the issue in Austria and complained more vociferously at Silverstone, but Mercedes thought it was driving style related. When he took the same approach as Antonelli in Belgium but continued losing time, Wolff accepted that there was a problem to investigate.

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George Russell’s relationship with Toto Wolff faces its first major test

Wolff has consistently stated that Russell has his full support during what may be his toughest spell as a Mercedes driver so far. Now 50 points behind Antonelli after entering the season as the title favourite, he was borderline tearful in the Spa media pen.

But Wolff also issued a subtle reminder last Sunday that ‘it’s quite an honour to drive for Mercedes’. For all the gremlins with the power unit, it is still widely regarded as the best on the grid.

In the eyes of the team principal, half of Russell’s problems are ‘on the driving’ side.

For Daily Mail journalist Jonathan McEvoy, this is part of a consistent pattern. He always seems to show a ‘lukewarm’ attitude towards Russell, who had to wait until October last year to even sign his 2026 contract as Wolff openly expressed interest in Max Verstappen.

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Russell was one of the standout drivers on the grid last year but now, when he needs the kind of ‘tender loving care’ Lewis Hamilton received in 2022 after his Abu Dhabi heartbreak, he’s not receiving it – at least in the public domain.

Wolff would always ‘sound the trumpets’ for Hamilton and ‘gush’ with praise after every ‘half-decent drive’, but always seems to apply ‘caveats’ when he’s praising Russell.

It may be different behind closed doors, but if he gave stronger backing on camera, Russell wouldn’t have to answer questions about Mercedes allegedly favouring Antonelli, which will surely rattle him.

Wolff’s relationship with Hamilton also became strained at times, be it in 2016 when Nico Rosberg won the title, or 2024 when he signed for Ferrari, but they remain genuine friends to this day.

This is perhaps the first major test of the Wolff/Russell bond, with the championship on the line for the first time. Ultimately, it’s down to both parties to protect it.