© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Toto Wolff says Mercedes accepts “that there can be a rivalry between our drivers, but this rivalry must never degenerate into a conflict that could damage the team”.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had a great relationship in 2022, and both tried their best to help the team come to grips with their troubled car.
Speaking of their relationship to Auto Motor und Sport, Wolff said they were both focused on helping the team, and not on competing against each other.
“Lewis is the best driver of all time along with Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari days,” Wolff said.
“I would see Lewis and George on a par in 2022. George got out of a car that was certainly difficult to drive. He got into one that was certainly difficult to drive as well.
“Lewis went from a perfect car to the W13. So he had to adapt a lot. We had races where George was stronger and races where Lewis was stronger.
“But it wasn’t about who scored more points and beat the other. It was about developing a car together that was capable of winning.
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“Both have great respect for each other. And both recognise the other’s performance. That’s a good constellation.”
The Austrian then said he would never allow their relationship to “degenerate into a conflict”.
“A good dynamic between the drivers also depends on what the management sets them. What framework conditions we set for them.
“And how the drivers interact with each other in terms of respect. I think we are in a good starting position because both drivers respect each other. Respect each other humanly.
“We accept that there can be a rivalry between our drivers, but this rivalry must never degenerate into a conflict that could damage the team. I would never allow that.
“I have never allowed that either,” Wolff concluded.
