Bizarre admission from Wolff over Russell new deal – As Formula One arrived in the Styrian hills this weekend in Austria, the talk of the paddock was the lack of a new contract for George Russell. The British driver has been with the Mercedes driver programme for around a decade and served his F1 apprenticeship with Williams from 2019 to 2021.
There was talk late in 2020 that Russell may move up to replace Valtteri Bottas alongside Lewis Hamilton, but the seven times world champion was vocal in his support for his Finnish team mate. With Hamilton going dark after his failure to claim the record eighth drivers championship, Mercedes moved over the winter to offer George the second seat at Mercedes AMG F1.
Far from being intimidated by his legendary team mate, Russell claimed his maiden F1 victory in 2022 at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and eclipsed Hamilton in the final driver standings in Abu Dhabi. As Hamilton’s woes worsened with the new ground effect cars, Russell appeared unfazed by the situation at Mercedes and before Lewis departed for Ferrari, Russell again bested his team mate in 2024.
Russell Mercedes dominent driver
Once the master of the single lap, Hamilton was beaten 18-6 last season and finished ahead in the Grand Prix on just nine occasions. Since inheriting the role as Mercedes team leader, Russell has more podiums in the first ten races of this year than both Ferrari drivers put together. His win in Canada was peerless even with the hard charging Max Verstappen hunting him down.
He is closing in on world champion Max Verstappen having outscored him by 18 points and now sits in fourth, just 19 points behind the Red Bull driver. For most paddock observers, Russell has earned his stripes during his four seasons with the team and is dominating his rising star rookie team mate scoring two thirds of Mercedes points this year so far.
The big question is, why has Toto Wolff not locked down his number one driver with a new contract? Even stranger Russell has been making noises about being happy to be Max Verstappen’s team mate.
With McLaren dominating the championships this season, Red Bull have yet to deliver Verstappen with a car capable of taking the fight properly to the papaya liveried duo. This has led to fevered reports that the Dutch driver whose entire F1 life has been with the Milton Keynes based team is considering a move next year in search of a better car.
Will Mercedes ace 2026 regulations?
Much of the Verstappen to Mercedes rumours are based on the reasoning that there’s a big change in the power unit regulations coming in 2026 and the last time this occurred, Mercedes new powertrain proved to be the class of the field. Further, Red Bull is attempting something no F1 team has ever pulled off in history and are building their own power unit for 2026 with no experience of this kind of engineering project.
Yet the new power unit regulations are very different from 2014 when Mercedes spent a reported $1bn in R&D on their all conquering powertrain. There is a cost cap on the engine development programmes for all the manufacturers along with restrictions on bench testing. Red Bull are now in their third year of building their powertrains division and have had a number of key personnel from Mercedes join the new programme in Milton Keynes.
However, the myth that Mercedes will be the team to beat in 2026 remains. In Austria Russell remarkably confirmed his contract delays were due to ongoing talks between Mercedes and Verstappen although he maintains with two seats up for grabs with the silver arrows his position is secure.
After free practice time three in Austria, Wolff admitted that there remained a possibility of Verstappen joining Mercedes next season. Yet surely this should not prevent Mercedes awarding Russell a new contract in the meantime. When asked who would partner Verstappen should he decide to make the move to Brackley, Toto was coy with his reply.
Wolff admits “every driver lineup” possible
“I can imagine every lineup,” the Austrian insisted. “I had (Nico) Rosberg and (Lewis) Hamilton fighting for a world championship, so everything else after that is easy.” This response would appear to cover off the fractious nature of Russell and Verstappen’s relationship as in Canada Red Bull had accused him of poor sportsmanship and trying to get the world champion a one race ban.
Yet Wolff is reticent to let go Mercedes new rookie driver having missed out on a young Max Verstappen as Red B all swooped in and took him from under Wolff’s nose. “We are happy with our drivers,” he told Sky Italia following the official FIA team principal press conference. “But with a company like Mercedes and out of respect for everyone, you have to look at all the opportunities – even more so if it’s a four-time world champion.”
George Russell has clearly been making a pitch to retain his seat, having claimed he would be happy if Max Verstappen was his team mate. Further, his revelations of confidential conversations between Mercedes and the world champion again appears to be a public relations activity to protect his current position.
Almost “zero chance” of Max joining Mercedes
Speaking to Sky after FP3, Wolff admitted: “There’s almost zero chance…” of Verstappen joining the Mercedes team but admitted if he became available he would have no choice but to sign the Dutch driver.
As the half way point of the season approaches next weekend in Silverstone, drivers can activate performance clauses in their contracts which would release them should the team have not delivered from their side of the bargain. With the potential of one team dominating a season, Verstappen’s clause is believed to include an article which would allow his release were he lower than third in the drivers’ title race.
The irony of the situation cannot be understated. It is in fact George Russell who may be decisive in the Verstappen coming decision. In Austria and Silverstone should the British driver outscore his arch rival by 19 points plus, this would deliver Verstappen the option to activate his contract exit clause.
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Williams dropped Damon Hill following his Drivers World Championship win. Russell is not safe, Toto will drop him for a Verstappen / Antonelli partnership at the drop of a hat!
Totally agree. Max and George explosive.