George Russell has indicated that Mercedes` ongoing efforts to potentially sign Red Bull`s Max Verstappen are contributing to the delay in receiving an extension to his current contract, which is set to expire.
Russell has been a standout performer this season, consistently maximizing the potential of his Mercedes car. His strong form culminated in a victory at the recent Canadian Grand Prix, adding to the four podium finishes he had already secured.
The fact that Mercedes has not yet renewed the 27-year-old driver`s contract, which expires at the end of the current season alongside his young teammate Kimi Antonelli`s one-year deal, has come as a surprise to many within the F1 paddock.
Both Russell and the Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, have repeatedly downplayed the significance of the contract not yet being finalized. However, speaking ahead of this weekend`s Austrian Grand Prix, Russell admitted for the first time that having the deal confirmed would indeed be `helpful` for him.
When directly asked about the status of contract talks, Russell stated, “Yeah, a little bit. No major updates yet.” He added, “It`s not something that I`m pressing massively because, as I`ve always said, the performance is the priority, and I feel with the performance I`m showing at the moment – still in line with the performance I`ve shown over all these years – I`ve got zero reasons to be worried.” He concluded on the topic, “But obviously, it does help if there was pen on paper. But let`s see.”
Following Lewis Hamilton`s decision, made before the start of last season, to leave Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff openly pursued four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Despite ultimately signing young Italian driver Kimi Antonelli after failing to secure Verstappen, Wolff has since publicly downplayed his interest in the Dutch champion, claiming he is content with his current driver pairing and is not looking elsewhere.
However, in a later exclusive interview with Sky Sports F1 on Thursday, Russell appeared to suggest that he still believes Mercedes is attempting to recruit Verstappen from Red Bull.
He commented, “From my side, I don`t think I have anything really to worry about. I think, as a team, it depends where you put your aspirations.” Russell elaborated, “We`re second best at the moment, maybe third best. We might be overperforming slightly to be second best.” He added, “As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and if you`re going to be back on top you need to make sure you`ve got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that`s what Mercedes are chasing.” Russell concluded his thought, “So, it`s only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. But from my side, if I`m performing as I`m doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula 1 team.”
Russell Explains Contract `Delay`
It remains uncertain whether Mercedes would attempt to partner Russell with Verstappen, particularly given the intense rivalry and heated exchanges the two drivers have had both on and off the track over the past year, notably at last year`s season finale in Abu Dhabi.
During his media session earlier on Thursday, Russell hinted, without explicitly naming Verstappen, that potential uncertainty about pairing him with his rival could be a factor in why his contract has not yet been extended.
“Toto has made it clear to me that he thinks how I`m performing this year is as good as anybody,” Russell stated. “I think there`s only one driver that you can debate in terms of performance – these are his words, these are not my words – so that`s why I have no concern about the future.” He then added, “But there`s two seats at every team and I guess he needs to think, who are those two drivers going to be for those two seats, and I guess that`s what the delay is.”
Echoing comments he made before his victory in Canada earlier in June, Russell reiterated his confidence in securing a place on the 2026 F1 grid, whether it is with Mercedes or another team.
He told Sky Sports F1, “For sure, I want to be in the seat that`s going to give me the best chance to win, and ultimately, nothing would make me happier than winning with Mercedes because they`re the ones that helped me get my opportunity and I`ve built such a relationship with everybody in this team.” Russell stressed his immediate focus, “But right now, there`s only one thing for me to focus on and that`s driving fast. If you`re driving quick, there`s nothing to worry about. And if you`re not, that`s when people start talking.”
Verstappen: 2026 Not Really in My Mind
Conducting his own media session before Russell on Thursday in Austria, Max Verstappen was asked whether he expects to continue driving for Red Bull next season.
He responded, “I`ve had that question before as well in my life. I don`t think we need to talk about that. You want me to repeat what I said last year?” Verstappen reiterated his focus, “Again, it`s not really in my mind. I`m just driving, trying to push the performance, and then we focus on next year.”
Early in the season, speculation about a release clause in Verstappen`s contract created uncertainty about his immediate future, leading to suggestions he might move to Mercedes or Aston Martin. However, his consistent performance, keeping him comfortably within the top four of the drivers` standings (necessary to avoid triggering the clause by the summer break), had largely quieted these rumours. Russell`s recent comments are now expected to reignite the discussion, and both Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Christian Horner of Red Bull are likely to face questions on the topic throughout the upcoming race weekend.
