George Russell has insisted he is not going to signal his new Mercedes Formulation 1 contract over the present summer time break because the Briton is eager to not rush proceedings.
The 27-year-old’s deal expires on the finish of the 2025 season and has been a serious speaking level in current weeks as Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen was touted for a transfer to Mercedes.
However forward of final weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen confirmed he was not leaving Purple Bull, which means it’s all however sure that Russell and his team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, whose contract additionally expires this 12 months, will stay with Mercedes.
Contract signings usually happen through the annual summer time break, however Russell revealed he anticipated nothing to occur earlier than F1 returns for the Dutch Grand Prix on 29-31 August.
“I’ve obtained nothing to be frightened about,” Russell informed Sky Sports activities F1 on Sunday. “And nothing’s going to occur over summer time as a result of, truthfully, I simply need to have a relaxation and recharge and are available again stronger for the second half of the 12 months.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Photographs by way of Getty Photographs
“However there isn’t any time strain both manner now. So it will occur when it should occur.”
Russell, a longtime Mercedes junior, joined the Silver Arrows in 2022 after spending his first three F1 campaigns on mortgage at Williams.
He has received 4 grands prix for Mercedes and by no means been in an F1 title combat, regardless of the squad profitable eight consecutive constructors’ titles earlier than he joined.
So, with the 2026 pecking order unknown given the incoming regulation adjustments, Russell needs to make sure the situations of his subsequent contract are proper – however acknowledged “it’s a when, not if” he’ll signal.
“I am 27 now, I have been with the workforce for 4 years,” he added. “Subsequent 12 months could be my fifth. We need to construct the connection collectively, but it surely’s obtained to be proper and I do not need to rush it.
“I have been ready 12 months. I am not going to simply rush it in the midst of two weeks. So we’ll sit down when the time is true.”
The contract saga has come amid a really sturdy season for Russell, who’s fourth within the championship having received in Canada and has been a standout driver for a lot of.
That’s the reason his boss Toto Wolff holds Russell within the highest regard, claiming “George has all the time had good playing cards” in the case of a contract extension.
George Russell, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Photographs
“He’s delivered since 2018 [his F2 title-winning year], there wasn’t a season he wasn’t there,” added Wolff post-race in Hungary, the place Russell completed third. “Nothing modified that in our pondering for subsequent 12 months, so simply since you do not discuss exterior does not imply that issues aren’t progressing in a manner they need to internally.
“In terms of the contract, let’s have a look at. We’ll come out and see what sort of time period we now have put ahead, however undoubtedly his standing within the workforce is robust, he has proven it in the present day once more.”
Further reporting by Christian Nimmervoll
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