Russell close to extension at Mercedes

George Russell is expected to extend his contract with Mercedes before the summer break, according to Sky Sports News. The deal would be for several years and would tie the British driver to the German team until at least the end of 2027.

A file that had been dragging on for months

Russell’s current contract expires at the end of the year, but negotiations for its renewal have taken time. Meanwhile, the Mercedes management was exploring the possibility of recruiting Max Verstappen, which delayed discussions with their current driver.

The situation became clearer when Verstappen seemed to be on track to stay with Red Bull for 2026, particularly after the dismissal of Christian Horner. Toto Wolff, the director of Mercedes, then indicated during the Belgian Grand Prix that an agreement with Russell could occur before the summer break.

Reflecting on this delay, Wolff emphasized that it had no impact on his driver: « As a driver, he is so mature and stable that I don’t think it makes a difference in performance. On the contrary, I would have liked to secure him a little earlier. We didn’t manage to do that, but I am optimistic he will sleep well during the summer break. », he assured.

Russell takes responsibility for the situation publicly.

Last June, Russell himself revealed that his contract was delayed due to discussions between Mercedes and Verstappen. This media statement contributed to fueling all sorts of rumors, but Wolff doesn’t see any problem with it.

According to him, his driver simply wanted to show that he was aware of the team’s intentions: “I think he triggered this whole media avalanche. I may be naive sometimes, but I try to be transparent with the drivers,” explained the Austrian boss. “I told him: ‘Listen, I have an obligation to explore what Max is going to do in the coming years.’ And I think he came out with that, wanting to show: ‘I’m aware of what’s happening, nothing is going on behind my back.’ And that’s fine with me.” A statement he considers legitimate, given the openness displayed in their exchanges.

A specific management

Russell’s contractual situation has a particularity: Mercedes also manages his career. The Briton joined the team’s young driver program in 2017, before being loaned to Williams for three seasons and replacing Valtteri Bottas in 2022.

Wolff recalls that this model relies on a total financial commitment from Mercedes from the very beginning of the driver’s career: “We try to pick up young drivers very early in their careers and we finance everything, so we don’t ask for any contribution from parents or sponsors,” he explains. “And for that, for a certain time, we have management rights, and it’s very similar to what Red Bull does.” This approach strengthens the ties between the team and its protégés, while giving Mercedes a certain control over their trajectory.

Verstappen not ruled out for the future

Although Mercedes seems to be focusing on Russell and Kimi Antonelli for 2026, Wolff does not completely rule out a future rapprochement with Verstappen. While admitting that it is an unlikely scenario, he even compares this potential duo to the legendary Ayrton Senna-Alain Prost partnership at McLaren.

« It’s more in the realm of a long-term bet, far-fetched », he nuances. « Because I want to stay with Kimi and George as is, everything else is not realistic. But obviously, if you have a Russell-Verstappen lineup, it’s Prost-Senna I guess, right? » The Austrian boss does not rule out this possibility and seems to have considered it at length, despite the many obstacles that make it uncertain for now.

Russell is currently experiencing his best season in Formula 1, with a victory and four other podiums despite the inconsistent performances of the Mercedes W16. This multi-year extension will allow him to approach the 2026 regulatory changes with peace of mind.