"Toto literally turned him into a Bottas with this comment" - Fans back George Russell as Mercedes boss aims to beat Red Bull with Lewis Hamilton

Fans have been buzzing about Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff's comments on Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull.

It was recently confirmed that Toto Wolff agreed to a three-year contract renewal with the German outfit. Wolff, who has been at the helm of the eight-time Constructors' champions for over a decade, has inked a three-year extension which will see him continuing his services with the Brackley-based outfit at least till the end of 2026.

Upon the announcement of his renewal, Wolff, who is also a 33% owner of the team, expressed his desire to topple the reign of the dominant Red Bull with the help of his superstar driver Lewis Hamilton.

The German outfit's lackluster performances in the last two seasons, where its rival Red Bull has secured two consecutive Constructors' titles in dominant fashion, has led to speculation about the Wolff's future in the team. However, the Austrian claimed the future would see Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton end the Milton Keynes-based team's dominance.

He stated in an interview with The Telegraph:

"I will stay at Mercedes to beat Red Bull with Lewis."

This proclamation triggered a range of reactions from fans. Some took to social media to express their opinions, highlighting the impact of Wolff's statement on the team's second driver, George Russell.

One user commented on X (formerly Twitter):

"If i'm George Russell I'll be super pissed because

1. In two years I've been unable to establish myself against Lewis

2. Toto literally turned him into a Bottas with this comment"

Another fan echoed similar sentiments, saying:

"Even he knows Russell ain't that guy."

A third fan wrote:

"George must feel like a complete mug at Mercedes."

Here are some more fan reactions to Toto Wolff's statement about Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton ending the dominance of Red Bull Racing:

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Mercedes boss on W15 and Lewis Hamilton's prospects with the new car

Red Bull has completely dominated the grid over the past two seasons and comfortably secured the Constructors' championship. Mercedes' relative underperformance, meanwhile, has largely been attributed to their previous models, W13 and W14, and the particularly ill-fated zero sidepods concept.

With the W15's launch just around the corner, Wolff shed light on the team's future prospects with the team's latest car model. He said (via The Telegraph):

"Those who have driven in the simulator have told us that the 2024 car [W15] doesn't look like the car of the last two years."

On Lewis Hamilton's prospects with the W15, Wolff exuded optimism as he said:

"If we give Hamilton a good car that he can rely on, he can get back in front of everyone."

Earlier today, Mercedes also confirmed the launch date of the much-awaited W15. The next edition of the eight-time Constructors' champions series would be unveiled on February 14.