George Russell indicated that Mercedes` ongoing interest in potentially signing Max Verstappen from Red Bull is causing a delay in finalizing his own contract extension.
Russell has been a standout performer this season, consistently extracting maximum performance from his Mercedes car. This includes a recent victory in Canada and four podium finishes earlier in the year.
Many in the Formula 1 paddock have expressed surprise that Mercedes has not yet extended the 27-year-old`s contract, which is set to expire at the end of the season, as is his young teammate Kimi Antonelli`s one-year deal.
While both the driver and the team have repeatedly downplayed the significance of the delay, speaking ahead of this weekend`s Austrian Grand Prix, Russell admitted for the first time that having the deal agreed would `help` him.
When asked if contract talks were progressing, Russell responded, “Yeah, a little bit. No major updates yet.”
He added, “It`s not something I`m pushing hard for because, as I`ve always stated, performance comes first. Based on my current performance, which is consistent with previous years, I have no reason to be concerned.”
“But it would clearly be beneficial to have the deal signed. We`ll see.”
Following Lewis Hamilton`s decision before last season to move to Ferrari in 2025, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff openly pursued four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
After ultimately signing young Italian driver Kimi Antonelli when their attempt to land Verstappen failed, Wolff has since downplayed his interest in the Dutchman, stating he wouldn`t `flirt` with other drivers given the positive situation with his current pairing.
However, speaking later on Thursday, Russell implied that he believes Mercedes is still attempting to sign Verstappen from Red Bull.
He commented, “Personally, I don`t feel I have much to worry about. I believe, for the team, it depends on their goals.”
“Currently, we are the second or possibly third best team. We might even be slightly exceeding expectations to be second best.”
“As Mercedes, they aim to return to the top. To achieve this, they need the best drivers, engineers, and pit crew, and that`s what Mercedes is striving for.”
“Therefore, it`s natural that discussions with drivers like Verstappen are happening. But personally, given my current performance, I have nothing to be worried about. There are two seats in every Formula 1 team.”
It`s uncertain if Mercedes would try to pair Russell with Verstappen, especially considering their heated rivalry on and off track over the last year, highlighted by strong words exchanged after the Abu Dhabi season finale.
During a media session on Thursday, Russell, without naming Verstappen, hinted that potential concerns about partnering him with his rival might be contributing to the delay in his contract renewal.
“Toto (Wolff) has made it clear to me that he thinks my performance this year is as good as anyone`s,” Russell stated.
“He believes there`s only one driver whose performance could be debated against mine – those are his words, not mine. That`s why I`m not worried about the future.”
“However, every team has two seats, and I suppose he needs to consider who those two drivers will be for those two seats, and I guess that`s the reason for the delay.”
Russell reiterated the confidence he expressed before his Canada victory in June, stating he is sure he will have a seat on the 2026 grid, whether at Mercedes or another team.
He said, “Naturally, I want to be in the car that offers the best chance to win. Ultimately, winning with Mercedes would be the most fulfilling, as they gave me my start, and I`ve developed a strong bond with everyone here.”
“But currently, my sole focus is driving fast. If you`re performing well, there`s nothing to worry about. If you`re not, that`s when speculation begins.”
Speaking to the media earlier on Thursday in Austria, before Russell, Max Verstappen was asked if he expected to be driving for Red Bull next season.
He responded, “I`ve been asked that question before. I don`t think we need to discuss it. Do you want me to say what I said last year?”
He added, “Again, it`s not really on my mind. I`m just driving, focusing on performance, and then we`ll look at next year.”
Speculation about a potential release clause earlier this season cast some doubt on Verstappen`s immediate future, leading to suggestions he might move to Mercedes or Aston Martin.
However, his secure position within the top four in the driver standings – which he would need to be outside of by the summer break to activate the clause – had mostly silenced this speculation.
Russell`s remarks are expected to reignite the debate, and Mercedes boss Wolff and Red Bull`s Christian Horner will likely face questions on this topic throughout the weekend.
Marcus Prine