Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 324 2 299 3 255 4 212 5 165 6 121 7 78 8 70 9 39 10 37 <\/p>\n
However, heading into the Singapore GP, the 27-year-old is yet to sign a new deal, despite Toto Wolff<\/a> publicly hinting that Russell and Antonelli will stay for 2026. Nothing has been confirmed, with the threat of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes<\/a> hanging over the former.<\/p>\n Russell wants assurances from Mercedes<\/a> that he will be part of their long-term plans with his new contract. However, the team\u2019s interest in Verstappen could mean that Wolff manipulates Russell\u2019s deal<\/a> to include an escape clause, allowing him to sign the Red Bull star.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, but one of those teams is \u2018unlikely\u2019 to sign the Brit.<\/p>\n Aston Martin have been interested in Russell<\/a> as they look to build a championship-winning team under the new technical regulations. Theoretically, the \u00a31.6bn-valued F1 team<\/a> would have a spot available for 2027, as Fernando Alonso<\/a> is out of contract at the end of next year.<\/p>\n Lance Stroll<\/a> 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\u2019s<\/a> chances of signing Russell are slim to none if the Canadian is there.<\/p>\n Speaking via Motorsport Italia\u2019s YouTube channel, he says that the pair are \u2018not great friends\u2019, thus shutting down any chances of a partnership: \u201cI think that at least, as long as Stroll is there, we\u2019re unlikely to see Russell in the team, they\u2019re not great friends.<\/p>\n \u201cIf it were Ferrari, imagine Ferrari arriving in October and they haven\u2019t announced the renewal of their top driver yet. It\u2019s a mess, all hell will break loose, it\u2019s a huge managerial fiasco. Mercedes has the advantage of being able to live under a much less intense spotlight than Ferrari.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s a coincidence, it seems obvious to me, we\u2019re at 99% because until it\u2019s signed it remains 99%, more than anything else due to a lack of alternatives, that Russell will race for Mercedes next year.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell\u2019s life outside F1 from net worth to height<\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019s interest in Verstappen.<\/p>\n Reports have suggested that Russell will be handed a multi-year deal<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n![\"Aston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2232204396-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Marcel van Dorst\/EYE4images\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesGeorge Russell is \u2018unlikely\u2019 to join Aston Martin if Lance Stroll is there<\/p>\n![\"George](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/GettyImages-2236128319-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Jakub Porzycki\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesGeorge Russell is putting pressure on Mercedes to give him a new contract<\/p>\n