F1: Toto Wolff backs 'leader' George Russell to succeed at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton's exit to Ferrari

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said he is confident that George Russell can become a "leader" after Lewis Hamilton joins Ferrari for the 2025 season.

Last week's announcement that Hamilton will join Ferrari at the end of the upcoming season sent shockwaves around the sport.

The seven-time world champion has won six of his driver's titles at Mercedes after joining the team from McLaren in 2013.

Although Wolff recently said Hamilton's decision was "not a surprise", he has backed fellow Englishman Russell to step up as a leader.

"With all the Lewis discussion, something that has not been talked about enough is George," Wolff said, per Sky Sports.

"George has the potential to be the next lead driver in the team. He is of the generation of Lando [Norris] and [Charles] Leclerc and some of the others.

"I couldn't wish for a new team leader when Lewis leaves, no doubt about that."

Russell enjoyed an impressive debut campaign with Mercedes during the 2022 season and finished above Hamilton in the drivers' standings.

The 25-year-old also secured Mercedes' first win over the previous two years when he secured victory at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.

However, Russell experienced a tougher time last season where he finished eighth in the drivers' standings and 59 points behind Hamilton.

Although Red Bull and three-time world champions Max Verstappen has enjoyed a spell of dominance in the sport, Wolff believes that Mercedes can secure a second driver and once again compete for the championship.

"We have such a solid foundation, such a quick, talented and intelligent guy in the car that we just need to take the right choice for the second driver, and that's not something I want to be rushed in," Wolff added.

"I guess that a few contracts have been signed a few weeks ago that we would have looked at that could have been interesting but timing here beat us a bit."

Mercedes went through a similar experience when Nico Rosberg announced a shock retirement from the sport after winning the 2016 title.

Valtteri Bottas came in as Rosberg's replacement and enjoyed five successful years with the team, and Wolff says Mercedes will embrace the challenge of change.

"In a way, I always like change because change provides you with opportunity," Wolff said.

"In the same way we embraced the Nico situation, and that was equally like from one moment to the other, unexpected, I'm really looking forward to taking the right decisions with the team together with my colleagues on who's going to be in the seat next year.

"Maybe it's a chance to do something bold."

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