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Susie Wolff Ignores George Russell’s Noble Move to Expose F1’s Ugly Reality to defend Lewis Hamilton
Susie Wolff Ignores George Russell’s Noble Move to Expose F1’s Ugly Reality to defend Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is hailed by many to be one of the greatest ambassadors for F1. His widespread success in not just the sport but in every venture he begins has not come easy. As the only ever Black driver, Hamilton has faced adversity at every corner and still does to this day. But like his motto says, ‘Still I Rise’. Reflecting on the off-track struggles he had to face owing to his skin colour, the seven-time world champion has led many campaigns against discrimination and has worked tirelessly to promote diversity in the sport.
Whether through the Hamilton Commission or by demanding new F1 teams bring in diversity, the Brit has been the most outspoken entity on the grid when inclusion is considered. His efforts have inspired one man on the grid. Joining hands with Hamilton was George Russell, as they set out to promote the F1 Academy during the US GP weekend. However, Russell’s noble gesture failed to leave a lasting impression on the woman behind it all.
Susie Wolff Ignores George Russell
he Mercedes duo showed their heartfelt support for F1 Academy – a female single-seater championship – before the series’ final race. But the Academy’s boss wasn’t as pleased as Mercedes fans were. Susie Wolff couldn’t help but glance over the fact that, at least, the seven-time world champion wasn’t alone in showing support.
In an F1 TV interview, Susie Wolff was asked about her opinion on the support she was receiving with her long-term project, especially from Hamilton. While she commended Mercedes’ Golden Boy for his constant involvement, she couldn’t help but feel a little upset. She explained, “It’s a little bit sad that it’s always Lewis, he’s always the one offering support, coming over, he knows what it’s like to be the only one and so he has an affinity.”
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Even though George Russell shared a picture of him with the F1 Academy stars, there was no mention of the young Brit by Wolff. She was quick to point out that the only person on the paddock who understood their struggle was Lewis Hamilton. But it would be better if there is support from more drivers and teams in the coming races.As the F1 Academy season draws to a close, Hamilton provided a platform to the talented women on his Instagram, to share who they are and what their favorite moment was. In contrast, Russell shared a photo along with a request for fans to tune in for the F1 Academy finale.
Wolff has been vocal about her disapproval of the paddock’s lack of support towards her cause. However, Aston Martin and McLaren’s recent efforts in promoting women in Formula 1 say otherwise. Earlier this season, Aston Martin provided the opportunity of a lifetime to their driver ambassador – Jessica Hawkins. She made her F1 test debut in Budapest, following in Susie Wolff’s footsteps. The 28-year-old is a big reason Aston Martin is looking to make an entry in the F1 Academy in 2024.
So it’s fair to say that teams are moving towards inclusion the way Wolff would want. To add to the list of supporters, McLaren has made their bid by signing F1 Academy Star, Bianca Bustamante. The Philippines native even teared up in an Instagram post when she received her first McLaren threads
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A former Ferrari engineer has criticised the decision to bring in Lewis Hamilton and thinks the Brit’s presence will mean “a lot of potential for drama”.
At the age of 40, seven-time Formula 1 champion Hamilton will form a formidable driver partnership with Charles Leclerc. His big switch comes at the expense of Carlos Sainz, who has performed well for the Italian squad but who was axed so they had room for their blockbuster new signing.
But not everyone of a Ferrari persuasion is convinced that it will go well. Ernest Knoors, who spent many years as an engineer at Maranello, specialising in power units, worries that Hamilton’s presence could do more harm than good for a team that is finding its groove under Frederic Vasseur.
“A big name like Hamilton also brings a lot of politics and if politics within Ferrari are not managed well, then there is a lot of potential for drama,” he told Formule1.nl. “Hamilton has the tendency that if things do not work out, he turns his whole car upside down and starts experimenting.
“Ferrari believes very much in the big personalities and will follow him. But Hamilton is just someone you have to guide a little bit and not give the freedom to rebuild the whole car, because then it will go completely wrong. So I do not know if it is such a smart move, but of course it is nice for the sport.”
News of Hamilton’s planned move broke on February 1, coinciding with football’s Transfer Deadline Day. That the back pages of many newspapers were dominated by the decision of Hamilton to swap Mercedes for Ferrari was testament to the magnitude of the announcement.
Sainz was not surprised as he had been informed by his team of the plan ahead of it being made public. But the Spaniard responded well with two victories to date this season and five further appearances on the podium, on the way to what looks likely to be a fifth-placed finish in the championship – two spots and 54 points ahead of Hamilton.
Sainz has signed for Williams next year and, after several years of running at the front of the grid, will focus on his new challenge of helping restore one of the grid’s most historic teams to its former glory. But Knoors believes he should have been kept on by Ferrari instead.
The Dutchman added: “I see Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari more as a PR move. With all due respect, Hamilton is not going to take that Ferrari from P6 to P1. He will get the most out of it, but what Ferrari has to do is make that car faster. And if you make that car faster, you can easily drive at the front with the current line-up.
“Besides, as a team you have to look further on the horizon. If Hamilton becomes champion in the coming years, he and Ferrari will become immortal. But if you want to build a team with talent for the next five years, are you going to build on Hamilton? No, because he will really be finished after two or three years. That is why I would have kept the very strong line-up that Ferrari has now.”
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Chase Elliott had a front-row seat for one of NASCAR’s most bizarre moments of the 2024 Cup Series season. At the start of Stage 2, the pace car dove onto pit road in front of Elliott; however, it was a tad too late. The pace car made contact with the sand barrels at the entry of pit road and caused a red flag for cleanup.
Initially, there was some speculation on the NBC Sports broadcast, even from the No. 9 team, that Elliott made contact with the pace car. Fortunately, the pace car didn’t slide across the No. 9 car’s nose, but it undoubtedly provided one of NASCAR’s craziest red flag moments in recent memory.
Below, you can listen to Elliott and the No. 9 team react to the pace car crashing into the sand barrels on pit road at Phoenix during Championship Weekend!
Reflecting on the recent retirement of 2017 NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr., Earnhardt didn’t mince words about the toll NASCAR takes on its drivers. Speaking candidly, the two-time Daytona 500 winner admitted that the pressure to perform every week left him feeling miserable for most of his racing career—a sentiment he believes is shared by many of his peers.
“Right or wrong, racing made me a miserable person 90% of the time,” Earnhardt confessed. “And him too. I mean, ask Kyle Busch, ask anybody—unless you’re winning, you’re not happy.”
For these elite drivers, the sport is a relentless grind. A podium finish might bring temporary relief, but anything short of victory is often a source of frustration. The immense effort poured into preparation and execution rarely feels like it pays off unless the checkered flag is theirs.
Earnhardt highlighted the mental toll of falling short, explaining how the relentless focus on winning can overshadow the joy of simply competing. Even a solid performance feels hollow compared to the euphoria of a win.
“Unless you’re winning, you’re not happy at all,” he said. “You’re okay with a good run, but for the most part, all the effort it takes just to run good—it doesn’t weigh out.”
For drivers, the stakes are sky-high every week. Sponsors, fans, and teams demand nothing less than excellence, leaving little room for error or personal satisfaction in anything less than a dominant performance.
Earnhardt also shared insights into his friendship with Martin Truex Jr., who recently announced his retirement. While the two often spend time hunting together during NASCAR’s off-season, Earnhardt noted that the stress of racing even creeps into their leisure activities.
“When I’m with him during hunting season, it’s always in the back of his mind,” Earnhardt said. “It’s that stressful part of the year when he’s as miserable as he’s going to be.”
Now, with Truex stepping away from the track, Earnhardt looks forward to seeing a lighter, happier version of his long-time friend. Without the weight of weekly competition hanging over him, Truex might finally be able to relax and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle he cherishes.
“It’ll be fun to see him loosen up,” Earnhardt added.
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