P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff: George Russell didn’t get ‘the eyeballs’ next to Lewis Hamilton
Toto Wolff admitted that George Russell was undervalued as a driver due to his three-year partnership with Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes announced Russell’s multi-year F1 contract extension ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
Russell, who has consistently performed well this year, sought reassurances about his future with the team before signing.
Mercedes considered signing Max Verstappen, but decided to retain Russell amid uncertainties.
Russell made history as the first teammate to outperform Hamilton over an entire season in 2024.
Wolff highlighted Russell’s undervalued status as Hamilton’s teammate and credited his talent despite less media attention.
Kimi Antonelli, like Russell, has been signed for the next year, learning from a challenging rookie season under immense media scrutiny.
