George Russell lifts lid on Toto Wolff ‘selling point’ in Mercedes talks as 2022 seat eyed

F1: Hamilton and Bottas take the W12 Mercedes around Bahrain

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George Russell has opened up on his talks with Mercedes chief Toto Wolff, as he continues to be lined up for a move to the Silver Arrows for the 2022 season.

Russell seems destined to join Mercedes for the 2022 season and join up with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The Brit, 23, stood in for Hamilton at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix and made a brilliant impression.

Since then, rumours have swirled that he will one day take up a permanent race seat with Mercedes, and it now appears he’s held talks with Wolff over doing just that.

He recently revealed that he’d spoken with the Mercedes chief, and had attempted to sell himself by using his history within the sport.

During his Formula 1 career, Russell has only finished in the top ten once, at Sakhir.

But he believes he’s always been able to prove himself despite starting races at the back of the grid.

And that experience of driving at the back of the grid, Russell believes, will help him out if he were to join Mercedes.

“I wouldn’t say weak but there are definitely areas where I need to improve,” he said to Autocar when asked if he believes he has any weaknesses.

“Cars are constantly adapting and tyres are changing. It is a tricky sport but I guess that is what makes it so great.

“I think you have to learn to be adaptable. Definitely one thing I need to improve is my first laps.

“That is really odd because in my whole career – since I was eight years old – race craft and first laps were probably my strongest points.

“I was never the greatest qualifier in my junior career and in karting, but I could always move forward.

“That was one of my selling points to Toto [Wolff]. Statistically, I moved forward from where I started. Since I got into F1, it hasn’t been the case.

“It’s very different racing at the back compared to racing at the front, because you always have this concertina effect.

“When you are in the front two rows, it is fast and flowing, and when there is a gap, there is often no one ahead for the gap you are going for.

“When you start at the back of the grid, there’s a very different dynamic and I haven’t really got to grips with it. I’ve tried to improve but it is very difficult.”

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