Brundle critical of Wolff’s “unfair” behaviour – Formula One’s paddock elder statesman now claims that the Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is treating George Russell unfairly. The British driver who joined Mercedes the year after the calamitous end to Hamilton’s attempt at a record eight F1 drivers’ title, is out of contract with the silver arrows team come the end of this year.

During their three seasons together at Mercedes, Russell comprehensively beat his champion team mate 2-1 and in their final year together the young gun destroyed Hamilton in Saturday qualifying 18-6 and in the races on Sunday the tally was 15-8 against Lewis.

Now having inherited the mantle of team leader for the Brackley based team, Russell is once again delivering big time for Mercedes. He has scored almost three quarters of the team’s points this season to date while his talented rookie team mate is struggling to find his feet.

 

Russell acing the 2025 season

Russell has claimed more podiums than Max Verstappen this year, and his race win in Canada now sees the British driver just nine points behind the current world champion in P4. Yet it remains a mystery why Russell has not yet secured an extension on his deal to drive for Mercedes, even when considering the fact that Verstappen is talking to his team boss.

George has been making it clear since Barcelona, that “there are two seats in every team” and he is happy whoever Mercedes decide his team mate to be. With Antonelli failing to live up to his huge pre-season billing, its a mystery to F1 paddock observers how Russell remains in limbo over his future with the Mercedes AMG F1 team.

Both Wolff and Russell admittedlsat time outing Austria that talks are ongoing between Mercedes and Verstappen, although the Austrian boss suggested the probability of Max joining the team for 2026 is “very small.” Curiouser and curiouser as Alice once said.

Speaking at the British Grand Prix, Martin Brundle ex-F1 driver and Sky F1 commentator was asked whether Russell was being treated fairly by Wolff and Mercedes. “No, I don’t think he is, I think that he’s been hung out to dry a little bit. He’s doing a brilliant job of leading the Mercedes team. 

Hamilton’s big threat to Ferrari

 

 

 

Wolff ‘hanging George out to dry’

“He’s picked up the mantle from Lewis Hamiltonn very well. It must be super uncomfortable for him and a bit embarrassing that, you know, he’s sitting there waiting, unless stuff’s going on behind the scenes, but if it is, why are they not saying so? Brundle stated.

“Of course, Max Verstappen – I think everybody accepts he’s the fastest one on the grid – comes with certain challenges as well. But it’s a very difficult situation. But that’s the crucible of Formula 1. That there is the shark pool out there and, you know what, if you’re a team principal, don’t make a decision ’til you really have to,” added the veteran F1 racer.

Brundle went on to ponder whether Verstappen could even get out of his current Red Bull deal, which concludes ate the end of the 2028 season. He questions whether Max is “nervous” over the Red Bull Powertrains programme, as the F1 team attempts to become the first customer outfit to build its own engine.

Yet the situation behind the scenes is more complex than Brundle outlines, with Verstappen unlikely to move to Mercedes next season, so what are the issues? The huge new car design and power unit regulation changes coming in 2026 mean its uncertain which team will find the magic bullet and hit the ground running ahed of the field. It would be pointless for Verstappen to sign for another team for next year, only to find out a third is the one set to dominate the next set of F1 car design regulations.

Asleep at the wheel: F1 race control under fire

 

 

 

Its not about Verstappen to Mercedes in 2026

To that end Wolff may only want to offer Russell and Antonelli a one year extension to their current contracts, something Russell may feel belittles his efforts for the team over the past four seasons. Of course in a year, Antonelli may be delivering the world class promise Mercedes suggested he has within him and then it could be George who is on the outside looking in were Verstappen to move to Brackley for 2027.

Wolff explained to Sky Sports his thinking over the situation, stating: “I think when you look at the situation we have with Kimi and George, we have a perfect line-up that we very much enjoy and that we believe is the future, but, at the same time, there is a four-time world champion that needs to decide what he is going to do in the future, and that is just, as a team principal, you need to see where that is going.”

The Mercedes boss concluded, “but I think I give it a very little probability that it’s going to happen,” the implication being Verstappen will stay at Red Bull, even if just for one more year.

Carlos Sainz who lost his seat to Russell’s old team mate, understands the pressure having a world champion lined up to replace you. Further, he suggests the current delays could well be destroying the trust between a driver and his team. “As a racing driver, it’s not an ideal situation,” he said. “We all try and hide the fact that it affects you, we try not to be affected.

Zak Brown fears Verstappen move as Mercedes admit Russell is not safe

 

 

 

Sainz suggests ‘a loss of trust’

“In an ideal situation, the way you go racing, the way you are getting the results and the way you are being world champion is when all this is quiet, and when there’s 100% trust between you and the team, and when there’s 100% commitment between both parties,” said the Spaniard at the start of the British Grand Prix weekend.

There’s also one ironic twist which could result of Wolff’s dithering. It could be there’s a small chance that Red Bull offer George a contract for next year and beyond whilst retaining Verstappen. With the rest of the top drivers all under contract into 2026 and beyond, Mercedes would then find themselves in the lurch.

So for now the stand off remains. Russell demanding recompense and recognition for leading the team over the past four seasons, whilst Toto Wolff is only prepared to offer him another one year deal.

 

 

 

 

FIA president accused of “a reign of terror” by official

Is the reign of one of the most despised FIA presidents about to come to an end? Mohammed Ben Sulayem has almost completed his first four year term is head of the global sporting body and is up for re-election in December.

In days gone by an FIA president would be given as clear route to a coronation for their second term, yet such has been the controversy over this presidents tenure, senior figures in the F1 paddock have been lining up a replacement for some time.

Not only will Ben Sulayem face a challenger in the coming elections, but it will be one of the most respected figures in motorsport who will oppose him as Tim Mayer threw his hat into the ring on Friday in Silverstone. The US born sport’s administrator was thrown out of his role as F1 steward last November….. READ MORE