George Russell is attracting interest from rival Formula 1 teams in the paddock as he waits for his new contract with Mercedes.
The Brit is out of contract with the Silver Arrows at the end of 2025. Russell has established a clear advantage over Kimi Antonelli, who is also out of contract next year, as Mercedes’ lead driver, sitting fourth in the standings.
Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 324 2 299 3 255 4 212 5 165 6 121 7 78 8 70 9 39 10 37
However, heading into the Singapore GP, the 27-year-old is yet to sign a new deal, despite Toto Wolff publicly hinting that Russell and Antonelli will stay for 2026. Nothing has been confirmed, with the threat of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes hanging over the former.
Russell wants assurances from Mercedes that he will be part of their long-term plans with his new contract. However, the team’s interest in Verstappen could mean that Wolff manipulates Russell’s deal to include an escape clause, allowing him to sign the Red Bull star.
Russell has no intention of leaving Mercedes, but he may have to explore other options on the F1 driver market if Verstappen is headhunted. Juan Pablo Montoya says Russell should join Red Bull or Aston Martin, but one of those teams is ‘unlikely’ to sign the Brit.
Photo by Marcel van Dorst/EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesGeorge Russell is ‘unlikely’ to join Aston Martin if Lance Stroll is there
Aston Martin have been interested in Russell as they look to build a championship-winning team under the new technical regulations. Theoretically, the £1.6bn-valued F1 team would have a spot available for 2027, as Fernando Alonso is out of contract at the end of next year.
Lance Stroll is unlikely to lose his seat, unless he decides to leave F1 amid reports of a move to rallying, given his father owns the team. But according to journalist Roberto Chinchero, Aston Martin’s chances of signing Russell are slim to none if the Canadian is there.
Speaking via Motorsport Italia’s YouTube channel, he says that the pair are ‘not great friends’, thus shutting down any chances of a partnership: “I think that at least, as long as Stroll is there, we’re unlikely to see Russell in the team, they’re not great friends.
“If it were Ferrari, imagine Ferrari arriving in October and they haven’t announced the renewal of their top driver yet. It’s a mess, all hell will break loose, it’s a huge managerial fiasco. Mercedes has the advantage of being able to live under a much less intense spotlight than Ferrari.
“But it’s a coincidence, it seems obvious to me, we’re at 99% because until it’s signed it remains 99%, more than anything else due to a lack of alternatives, that Russell will race for Mercedes next year.”
READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height
Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesGeorge Russell is putting pressure on Mercedes to give him a new contract
The general feeling is that Russell will be driving for Mercedes in 2026. But the details of his contract are a contentious issue given the Brackley outfit’s interest in Verstappen.
Reports have suggested that Russell will be handed a multi-year deal by Mercedes, which would give him the security that he wants. But as time drags on for an announcement, the more speculation grows that the team are seriously plotting a move for one of his great rivals.
Russell is considering changing his management amid his contract talks with Mercedes. He believes that an independent manager would put him in a better position on the driver market, not just in the current negotiations, but 2027 and beyond.
The Brit is also beginning to mount pressure on the Silver Arrows, as Russell wants to match Lando Norris’ McLaren contract. He clearly rates himself as one of the strongest drivers on the grid, and he would be one of the top free agents on the market if the team were to lose him.