George Russell has confirmed that Toto Wolff is still involved in his management team after the signing of his new Mercedes contract.<\/p>\n
It comes after the British driver revealed that his new deal contains a clause that will automatically trigger an extension for 2027 if he performs during the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n
George Russell: Toto Wolff still \u2018taking care of me\u2019 after new Mercedes contract<\/p>\n
Mercedes announced earlier this month that Russell and teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli will remain with the team for F1 2026.<\/p>\n
It ended months of speculation surrounding the future of Russell amid rumours that Mercedes was interested in signing reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull.<\/p>\n
Russell revealed during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend in June that talks to take Verstappen to Mercedes were \u201congoing\u201d and were responsible for a delay on a decision on his own future.<\/p>\n
Verstappen went on to commit his future to Red Bull, where he remains officially under contract until the end of the 2028 season.<\/p>\n
George Russell: F1 2026 title favourite?<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Why George Russell\u2019s new Mercedes contract is the platform for a title tilt<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0George Russell Mercedes future secure, but what delayed his deal?<\/a><\/p>\n With Mercedes opting against specifying the exact length of Russell and Antonelli\u2019s new deals, however, it has been speculated that the team could renew its interest in Verstappen for 2027.<\/p>\n As well as acting as his team boss, Wolff \u2013 along with his wife, the former racing driver and F1 Academy head Susie \u2013 has been on Russell\u2019s management team throughout his F1 career.<\/p>\n Mercedes\u2019 interest in Verstappen has led to suggestions that Russell could cut ties with Wolff and seek an alternative management setup.<\/p>\n However, Russell has confirmed that his relationship with the Wolffs remains unchanged after signing his new deal.<\/p>\n Asked if Mr Wolff remains his manager, Russell told Sky F1: \u201cYeah, they\u2019re taking care of me.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to go into details or the ins and outs, but all I can say is I am very happy with what we\u2019ve come to.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I wasn\u2019t, I wouldn\u2019t have signed.\u00a0I\u2019m happy. I\u2019m very happy.<\/p>\n \u201cConsidering the circumstances, I think Toto could have been much tighter if he wanted to be, but he\u2019s always rewarded those who have delivered and he also knows that he wants the people to be happy and the ones who deserve it.<\/p>\n \u201cSo he could have been much harder he wanted to, but I\u2019m feeling really good.<\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s not about the money or the number of [sponsor] days or whatever. For me, it\u2019s about winning.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to win and that is the number-one priority for me.\u201d<\/p>\n More on George Russell and Mercedes from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 George Russell news<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Mercedes news<\/a><\/p>\n Russell\u2019s latest comments come after he clarified one of the main overhanging questions surrounding his new contract, confirming the deal contains an option<\/a> that will ensure he remains at Mercedes for 2027 if he performs next season.<\/p>\n He told the Telegraph:\u00a0\u201cIt is something I haven\u2019t actually said publicly, but the deal is if I\u2019m performing [next year] we have a specific clause that if I reach [a certain target], we will automatically renew for 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cSo my seat for 2027 is in my hands. So I\u2019m not being strung along here.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not going to be in the same position as we were six months ago.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I perform, and I don\u2019t want to go into details, but if I perform, then 100 per cent I\u2019ll be staying.\u201d<\/p>\n