P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell dominated in Singapore, but is yet to put pen to paper on a fresh contract with Mercedes.
Toto Wolff has praised George Russell as “formidable” and emphasized a need for a step up from his Mercedes team leader amid ongoing contract discussions following his victory at the Singapore GP. Russell’s dominant performance in Marina Bay secured his second win of the season and aided Mercedes in solidifying their second-place position in the constructors’ standings, now 27 points ahead of Ferrari. Despite Russell’s current contract ending this season, negotiations with Wolff are progressing positively, but a formal agreement is yet to be finalized. In his best F1 season so far, Russell has achieved two victories and eight podium finishes, poised to surpass his record points tally from 2022. Wolff commended Russell’s maturity and speed, acknowledging his flawless performance and growth as a team leader at Mercedes. Reflecting on Russell’s progress, Wolff highlighted his improved consistency and control, emphasizing the seamless synergy between the car, driver, and team for their recent dominance on the track.
