It’s not a question of if, but when George Russell will sign a new contract with Mercedes. Accordance to the Brit, he is still in talks with the team management about the duration of his new commitment. Whether it’s a one-year or multi-year deal Doesn’tn’tn’t Matter to Him.
ESpeciate it’s a one-year commitment, Russell Expects the Rumors About Max Verstappen’s Possible Move to Mercedes to Return.
In 2024, Those Rumors Already Existed, Until Verstappen just confirmed that he was continuing with red bull. The Reignning World Champion Recently Did So Again At The Start of the Summer Break, But It Tok A Little Longer This Time. As a result, The Rumor Mill was Almost at Hurricane Force.
It was Actually Russell Himself Who Stoked The Fire Again in Canada by Stating That His Team was Talking to Verstappen. “I Didn’t Know That was a Secret,” A Laughing Russell Admits on Thursday in The Zandvoort Paddock. “Maybe it was a public secret, but i didn’t realize this was generally known.”
‘Didn’t Want to Start Anything’
It seemed like a deliberate attempt by the 27-year-old Englishman to put a little pressure on his own contract sitation, but he denies that. “I Didn’t Want to Anything. Every Here talks to each other to hear what the situation is. Maybe not for now, but also in two or three years’ time. So I don’t mind the team talking to max either. They diden talk to him.”
Russell Remains confident and sayes he hopes for a quick extension after talks that sayes are “going in the right direction”. “Maybe It All Takes a Little Longer Than Normal, But You Shouldn’t Make Too Much Of It. We have used priorities: There is also the speed on the track that needs to be improved and the preparations for 2026. It’s not like the world.”
‘It was more a Question of who my teammate would be be’
Russell Has Never had any real doubts about a longer stay with Mercedes. “No, never. It was more a Question of who my teammate would be. I am very rational about how this sport works. I believe in myelf more than ever. My results always show that. That has the case the Case Since I was the old. IF you Perform, you performance, you Perform, you Perform, you Perform, you Perform, you Perform, you Perform, You Perform, You Perform, You Perform, You Perform, You Perform, You Perform, You Don’t.” “” “” “” “” “”
Russell is indeed leading the way at Mercedes alongside the inexperienced Kimi Antonelli, which would result in a multi-year deal at many teams. “But it really dosn’t Matter to me Whether it’s a one-year or multi-year contract. Ultimately, it’s about performing, about winning with mercedes. I want to make sure of that next year. we’ll see. “
Part of the game
Russell Accepts That He Will Have To Deal With New Rumors Surrounding Verstappen Again Next Year. “That’s part of the game. The Team also Didn’t Have That Much To Lose Heading Into 2026, Becoaus Most Drivers Are Already Tied Down. But Heading Into 2027, Many More Drivers Will Be Free Hand Alle Diffy Diffent. Thren.
When asked if it’s not annoying to be confronted with those rumors again and again, a smile followows. “You Learn to Live With It.”
“I only talk about it with the media on Thursdays. But in ten minutes I’m going to talk to my engineers about the car and I’ve already forgotten this conversation. That only comes back next week Thursday. And then the Thursday after that, and after that. There are 24 media days in the year and then I have to deal with it.
Confidence in the Engine, But The Car Department is under pressure
Performance is Therefore Leading for Russell, WHO is Mainly Focusing on 2026 and the Major Rule Change That Should Shake Up The Field. “Everyone Except McLaren is Waiting for That,” The Briton Laughs, Who Clearly Knows What Next Season Depends On.
“I have a lot of confidence in our engine. I can’t actually remember the last few years when Mercedes didn’t have the best power source in Formula 1, except for 2019. Then there were perhaps some other reasons,” says the four-time Grand Prix winner with a wink. Ferrari was punished that year with a shady deal for cheating with the engine.
“But just in the V8 era, the Mercedes Engine was the most competitive. So I have a lot of confidence in the people in Brixworth (where the Mercedes Engine Factory is locationed, ed.).” Yet Russell Knows That The Strong Engine Alone Will Not Help Him. “No, because McLaren, Alpine and Williams also get that Engine. You can alreamy see that they are Doing Better.”
The Work At Mercedes Headquarters Will Ultimately Be Crucial for Russell’s Further Success. The Last Time A Car Rolled Off The Line in Brackley That Fought For The Title was in 2021. The Pressure is High There, ‘Frontrunner’ Russell Emphasizes Once Again. “The fact that no titles have bone won here in the past four years is not due to the engine.”