Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has revealed a prediction made by the late Niki Lauda back in 2017 when Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix winner George Russell was in GP3. Russell claimed his maiden F1 win at Interlagos after fending off pressure from teammate Lewis Hamilton after a late race Safety Car restart. It made Russell the 113th driver to win in F1 and snapped Mercedes' winless run in the 2022 season. It all but cements Russell in fourth place in the standings, 25 ahead of Hamilton, as Wolff revealed what three-time World Champion Lauda had once told him.
Wolff's Lauda prediction
"James Vowles is instrumental in our young driver programme, but there's so many people involved who run our team," Wolff explained to Sky Sports F1 . "Something that I remember is that during George's [title winning campaign in] F3, it was the only podium that Niki ever visited. "He said: 'He's going to become a good one'. "[George] had the chance to win in Bahrain a few years ago [subbing for COVID-hit Hamilton], and now he's just brought it home. He had a fantastic day. "He withstood the pressure [from Lewis] at the end and it was really great."
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