Mercedes-AMG Motorsport roundup: Russell 100th GP, Wilbers appointed head, Fuji 24H win
Mercedes-AMG's motorsport division celebrates George Russell's 100th Grand Prix, announces Simon Wilbers as new head, and secures multiple race victories including a record-breaking Fuji 24 Hours.
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What Happened
George Russell contested his 100th Grand Prix for the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, celebrating his 26th podium for the team. He debuted at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix and earned his first podium in third place at the Australian Grand Prix.
“I was fortunate enough to meet George when he was 17 years old. He walked into my office wearing a suit and tie and gave a PowerPoint presentation to make the case for him becoming a Mercedes driver. Who would have thought that, ten years later, he would be part of the F1 team, winning races and fighting for World Championships? In that respect, it's something we achieved together, and I'm proud o”
George Russell debuts for Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team at Sakhir Grand Prix
Russell earns first podium for the team at Australian Grand Prix
TKRI wins Fuji 24 Hours with Mercedes-AMG GT3, setting records
Simon Wilbers becomes Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
Simon Wilbers will succeed Christoph Sagemüller as Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport from July 1. Sagemüller leaves after 15 years at Mercedes-AMG, having led the motorsport division since 2021 and overseen successes including DTM titles, GT World Challenge wins, and the Nürburgring 24h victory. Wilbers previously managed Customer Experience & Marketing Activation for F1 and GT Sport.
At the Fuji 24 Hours, TKRI won with the #23 Mercedes-AMG GT3 after 793 laps, finishing 80 seconds ahead. This marks the team's second consecutive win and fifth overall for Mercedes-AMG since 2020, a manufacturers' record. Tatsuya Kataoka earned his fourth consecutive Fuji 24 Hours victory, becoming the sole record holder.
Why this matters
These developments highlight Mercedes-AMG's competitive strength across F1, GT racing, and endurance events, while a leadership change signals strategic continuity.
Terms in This Story
- Grand Prix
- A major motorsport race, especially in Formula 1.
- Podium
- A top-three finish in a race, with drivers celebrated on a podium.
- GT3
- A category of grand tourer race cars used in various sports car racing series.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.