Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff believes George Russell is among the top three drivers in F1 after his impressive start to 2025.
Russell has began the new season with back-to-back podiums in Australia and China to trail championship leader Lando Norris by only nine points.
The Mercedes driver is seen as the team leader after Lewis Hamilton`s move to Ferrari and the latter`s replacement, Kimi Antonelli, in his rookie season.
After starting on the front row at the Chinese Grand Prix and nearly snatching second from Norris in the race, when the latter suffered a brake issue, Wolff has been impressed.
`I never give 10 out of 10 because I think there is always better. We haven`t seen the perfect race, but considering the circumstances that George had in China, it is a 10 out of 10,` Wolff said.
`He extracted the maximum of this car, the tyres, the strategy, and it was a brilliant drive. All these discussions about Lewis, who is the biggest person in the sport leaving to Ferrari, is a great story, Kimi coming in as the youngest driver and the high potential, and little was said about George.
`I always said that`s not right because he`s one of the top drivers out there. If you want me to name three that I consider to be the top [drivers], he`s absolutely among those three, if not top two, and maybe on his way to top one.`
He added: `George is a warrior, in the car and outside of the car.`
Wolff: Russell is rattling McLaren cage
At the opening two races, Russell has half-jokingly taunted Norris during media activities, saying he was the title favourite, perhaps to apply pressure on his compatriot.
In Australia, Russell stated McLaren could `already switch focus to 2026` and ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix he suggested McLaren have a bigger advantage over the rest of the field than Red Bull did in their dominant 2023 campaign.
Oscar Piastri responded by saying Russell`s comments were `pretty farfetched` but Wolff backed his driver.
`He is rattling the cage a bit more! Based on Melbourne, that was a valid statement,` he said.
`In China, we were closer and we need to analyse after a few race weekends where we are because on Saturday we would have said Ferrari`s dominance is back and as great as ever, then on Sunday it was more on the underwhelming side.
`So we need to not oscillate between exuberance and depression, literally from day to day, but after a few races, kind of find a baseline and say this is what it is now.`
Wolff refuses to discuss Russell contract
Russell is the most high-profile driver who does not have a contract for 2026, although Wolff confirmed earlier this year that Russell and Kimi Antonelli have `very complicated` deals, suggesting there are options to extend.
The 27-year-old has been part of the Mercedes family since 2017 as a junior, before three seasons at Williams and joined the Mercedes F1 team in 2022.
`George is a Mercedes driver, so we love having him in the team,` said Wolff after Sunday`s race in Shanghai.
`He was a junior driver and a Mercedes grown talent. I have something to be proud of and this is where all my concentration goes to.`
Formula 1 heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix on April 4-6, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
