Mercedes driver George Russell is set to sign a multi-year contract extension with the team, PlanetF1.com understands.<\/p>\n
It comes after PlanetF1.com revealed at last weekend\u2019s Belgian Grand Prix that Max Verstappen has opted to stay with Red Bull for the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n
George Russell to sign multi-year Mercedes contract as Max Verstappen chooses Red Bull<\/p>\n
Additional reporting by Mat Coch and Thomas Maher<\/p>\n
Despite enjoying his best-ever start to the season in F1 2025, culminating in his fourth career victory at last month\u2019s Canadian Grand Prix, Russell has found his seat at Mercedes come under threat over recent weeks in light of the uncertainty surrounding the future of Verstappen.<\/p>\n
The reigning four-time World Champion had been linked with a move away from Red Bull with Mercedes emerging as a potential alternative destination for F1 2026.<\/p>\n
Russell, who recently entered the final six months of his existing Mercedes deal, revealed at the recent Austrian Grand Prix that discussions with Verstappen and Toto Wolff were \u201congoing.\u201d<\/p>\n
George Russell set to sign new Mercedes contract<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49 F1 2025 driver salaries revealed: Who are the highest-paid drivers on the grid?<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 F1 driver contracts: What is the contract status of every driver on the F1 2025 grid?<\/a><\/p>\n As reported by PlanetF1.com over the Belgian Grand Prix weekend<\/a>, Verstappen is now expected to remain with Red Bull for the F1 2026 season, clearing the way for Russell to secure a new deal.<\/p>\n PlanetF1.com understands that Russell is closing in on a multi-year extension with Mercedes, committing him to the Brackley-based team until at least the end of 2027.<\/p>\n Russell could even be confirmed as an F1 2026 Mercedes driver as soon as this weekend\u2019s Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before the summer break.<\/p>\n His rookie team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who replaced seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes at the beginning of 2025, is also set to be retained alongside Russell.<\/p>\n Speaking to media including PlanetF1.com at Spa last Thursday, Russell hinted that \u201cfiner details\u201d were still to be ironed out before he could secure his stay at Mercedes for 2026.<\/p>\n He said:\u00a0\u201cThe intention [to sign a new contract] was always pre-summer break, because that\u2019s just people go into summer and you want to get something sorted.<\/p>\n \u201cRealistically, is that going to be the case? I don\u2019t know. There is still no contract on the table. So to have something done in the space of two weeks isn\u2019t likely.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to talk about finer details. And Formula 1\u2019s evolving so much now, you need to go through everything with a fine-tooth comb to make sure it\u2019s all okay.\u201d<\/p>\n More on George Russell and Mercedes from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 George Russell news<\/a><\/p>\n