George Russell has emerged from the shadow of Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes this season, according to Toto Wolff.
The team principal of the Brackley-based squad feels the former has "massively stepped up" in the wake of the seven-time F1 drivers' champion leaving for pastures new at Ferrari.
Underscoring how different the "dynamic" at Mercedes is now, having brought in highly-touted rookie Kimi Antonelli to partner Russell, Wolff has been effusive in his praise of the three-time grand prix winner all campaign.
The Briton has been one of the stand-out performers, clinching four podium finishes from the opening six rounds and remaining in touch of the drivers' championship fight, despite battling in lesser machinery to the front-running McLaren drivers.
When asked if the atmosphere in the Mercedes garage was different following Hamilton's departure, Wolff confirmed it was not - and took the opportunity to highlight what as changed, including Russell.
"No, I wouldn't say so," the Austrian told media including RacingNews365. "Lewis was part of the family. As a racing driver, he knew exactly what he wanted and the engineers and mechanics knew him. He knew them. We got along. You have good days, bad days, strengths and weaknesses.
"But when you know someone that well, it's easy to manage that. Now the dynamic is different. George has massively stepped up as a senior driver in the team.
"Kimi is almost like the young brother that's come in. They work well together, which is very pleasing to see. Kimi doesn't stress too much, he's just building up constantly.
"And on George, you can rely on him when it comes to lap times and racing. So spirits are high."
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stepping out the 'shadow' of Hamilton
In extension of Russell being only 38 points adrift of Oscar Piastri in the championship equation, it has been widely contended how he has evolved off the track this year, as Wolff emphasised, as well as on.
Despite the driver himself denying he has made a significant step forward, his boss sees a different Russell, now he has assumed a leadership role at the eight-time constructors' champions, something that has enabled him to step out of his former team-mate's shadow.
"I think it becomes so obvious, when a seven-time world champion leaves the team which he was with for 12 years, George, who like everyone has always been a little bit in the shadow of Lewis, is now the one giving direction," the 53-year-old replied when asked in what areas Russell has stepped up.
"He's the one you can rely on when it’s: 'George, where’s the pace of the car?', and that is important. That is what we do."
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