George Russell’s future at Mercedes is uncertain given the constant speculation linking Max Verstappen to the Silver Arrows, but a ‘breakthrough’ has been reached on the Brit’s future
George Russell has made a ‘breakthrough’ in his Mercedes contract talks(Image: Kym Illman, Getty Images)
George Russell is reportedly poised to sign a new contract with Mercedes following a ‘breakthrough’ in talks between the British Grand Prix and this weekend’s clash in Spa-Francorchamps.
The Silver Arrows have been strongly tipped to swoop for Max Verstappen, which would probably have seen the British driver dropped. Russell’s future has been a persistent subject of speculation this campaign, with the King’s Lynn ace out of contract at the close of 2025.
The lack of a renewal agreement has been even more surprising given the Brit’s impressive displays. The 27-year-old is just 18 points behind Verstappen in the championship with five podium finishes and one race win to his name in 12 Grands Prix this year.
According to a report from Auto Motor und Sport, the speculation surrounding his future is set to end, with the German publication claiming that Russell is ‘close to extending his contract’ following a ‘breakthrough in negotiations’.
Whilst Russell’s fresh agreement is reportedly close to being finalised, the four-time Grand Prix winner doesn’t expect an official announcement to happen before the summer break, which starts after next weekend’s race at the Hungaroring.
Max Verstappen has been linked with a switch to Mercedes(Image: Clive Rose, Getty Images)
Speaking to the media ahead of the Belgium Grand Prix this weekend, Russell said: “The intention was always pre-summer break, because that’s just people go into summer and you want to get something sorted.
“Realistically, is that going to be the case? I don’t know. There is still no contract on the table.
“So to have something done in the space of two weeks isn’t likely. You need to talk about finer details, and Formula One’s evolving so much now, you need to go through everything with a fine-tooth comb to make sure it’s all okay.
“But as I said, there is no rush, really, from my side, because ultimately, Toto and the team will decide what they wish to do, and I will be in a position of reacting to what they wish to do. So I’m just focusing on performance, and everything else will sort itself out.”
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Russell’s assurance was echoed by teammate Kimi Antonelli, who also faces an uncertain future with his contract expiring at the season’s end.
The Italian teenager has endured a rollercoaster debut campaign featuring spectacular moments like sprint pole position in Miami and his first F1 podium in Montreal, alongside some expensive errors.
Addressing his own contract negotiations during Thursday’s press conference, Antonelli expressed trust in team boss Toto Wolff, saying: “I’m sure the team knows what’s best for especially next year, and I’m pretty confident that I’m in a good position.”