Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff asserts that George Russell knows there are boundaries he can’t cross when he joins the team next year.
Russell has been signed to replace Valtteri Bottas at the squad in 2022, with the Finn switching to Alfa Romeo following five seasons at the dominant championship-winning squad.
Mercedes has enjoyed a harmonious relationship between Bottas and Lewis Hamilton since 2017, which followed a tense period when Hamilton was paired alongside Nico Rosberg.
With Russell aiming to prove his worth to the team next year, Wolff says that the Briton has been made aware of lines he can’t cross, all the while understanding that he will not hold back.
“George Russell is another intelligent young man,” Wolff told the Daily Mail. “He will slot into the team but that doesn’t mean he has to hold back when driving. You can’t expect a lion in the car and a puppy out of it.
“But there are certain boundaries within the team that must be respected and George knows them very well. Once the lights are green, only the drivers are responsible.
“I can’t interfere, manage or remote control them, but one thing is of ultimate importance — don’t touch. That’s your responsibility. You can race hard, but no contact.
“I’ve been there before with Nico when it wasn’t just a rivalry. There was a lot of animosity and that’s not going to happen.
“This is about showing respect for each other and it can be hard because if you race on the same spot on the race track you will eventually come across each other — but there is an integrity we expect that no one is ever bigger than the team.”
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