Toto Wolff names his ‘clear’ pick for the most underrated driver on the Formula 1 grid

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There are several Formula 1 drivers currently on the grid who probably don’t receive the praise that they deserve, and Toto Wolff has named his pick for who he thinks is the most underrated driver on the grid.

Having spent the majority of his career in F1 at the helm of Mercedes during one of the most dominant periods that the sport has ever seen, Toto Wolff has seen a number of talented drivers come and go from the grid without tasting success.

His latest project is Kimi Antonelli, who signed for Mercedes as a wide-eyed 18-year-old keen to replicate the feats of his heroes.

However, on the topic of who he thinks the most underrated driver currently is on the grid, the Austrian executive has another name in mind.

READ MORE: Toto Wolff shares his theory on why Lewis Hamilton has looked like ‘a fish out of water’ at Ferrari

Toto Wolff names George Russell as his ‘clear’ pick for the title of the most underrated driver on the F1 grid

In a recent appearance on WIRED’s Tech Support web series, Wolff was asked a multitude of questions regarding his day-to-day life in Formula 1, as well as his thoughts on the current season.

One of the questions that the Austrian executive fielded was in regards to who he thinks is the most underrated driver currently on the grid.

Wolff didn’t have to ponder for long before answering, saying, “For me, it’s clear, it’s George Russell.

“He’s won everything, in go-karting in Formula 3, Formula 2, he came into the team next to Lewis Hamilton, the biggest sports star in our industry, if not one of the biggest overall.

“But George has grown so much as a driver in his skills and as a personality. And I think today he’s definitely right up there and someone who leads the team going forward.”

Wolff’s sentiment regarding Russell is shared by F1 fans, with the majority of supporters also choosing the 27-year-old as their pick for the mantle of the most underrated driver in the sport.

READ MORE: Toto Wolff tells George Russell he shouldn’t expect to be Mercedes’ number one driver

George Russell has stepped up as a team leader at Mercedes following Lewis Hamilton’s departure

Following Lewis Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula 1 season, it became clear that Russell would be the man to lead the Silver Arrows’ charge in future seasons after rookie Kimi Antonelli was announced as the Brit’s replacement.

The five-time Grand Prix winner has stepped up to fill the void left by the seven-time world champion brilliantly.

He has shown that he is capable of being a dominant force when given the right tools through the two Grand Prix victories he has claimed during the current campaign.

At the wheel of sub-optimal machinery, the Mercedes driver is the only man on the grid other than the three championship protagonists to stand atop the top step of the podium this year.

Heading into his fifth season of racing as a Silver Arrow next season, Russell is hoping to replicate Michael Schumacher by winning his first title with the team in year five.