George Russell is leading the charge for the Mercedes Formula One team this season following the departure of his seven times champion team mate Lewis Hamilton for Ferrari. The former Mercedes’ academy driver has racked up 172 of the team’s 236 points whilst his teenage co-driver is struggling to live up to the hype which surrounding Wolff signing him as Hamilton’s replacement.
Mercedes’ team boss, Toto Wolff has openly admitted to talking to Max Verstappen about a potential move from Red Bull to Mercedes which has been widely accepted as the reason George Russell, despite his best start to an F1 season, remains in the final year of his previous “one plus one” year deal he signed when Hamilton was at the team.
In F1, contracts are often announced as “multi-year” deals when in fact they are a “one plus one,” meaning one year is guaranteed then both parties can if they wish agree to a further one year extension. The smoke and mirrors is designed to present the image of stability, when in reality the team wishes to keep its options open for one reason or another.
Russell “embarrassed” by Wolff’s delay
Russell’s current contract was signed 4th the same time Lewis Hamilton signed his last “multi-year” Mercedes deal, yet unhappy with the lack of commitment from Wolff, Hamilton exercised his option to quit after one year, within weeks of his shiny new Mercedes’ contract being agreed.
With Hamilton leaving, it was a no brainer for Wolff to take up the option on Russell for the second year of his deal, but now as it draws to a close it seems the “one plus one” kind of arrangement is problematic for the driver from King’s Lynn.
At the final F1 weekend before the summer break, Max Verstappen finally stated clearly his intention for 2026 was to remain with his Red Bull team. The world champion has a contract which would see him remain with the Milton Keynes based outfit until the end of 2028, yet he has performance clauses within his deal that would allow Verstappen to exit early should the team fail to give him a car which is not good enough for at least third place in the drivers’ championship.
With the Max to Mercedes possibility not put to bed for 2026, the pressure is mounting on Toto Wolff to do right by his star driver. Ahead of the birth Grand Prix, F1 grandee Martin Brundle was asked if Russell was being treated fairly by his team. “No, I don’t think he is,” said the Sky F1 presenter. “I think he’s been hung out to dry a little bit, he’s done a brilliant job of leading the Mercedes team, he’s picked up the mantle from Lewis Hamilton very well. It must be super uncomfortable for him and a bit embarrassing that he’s sitting there waiting.”
George’s career still under Mercedes’ management
Even with the news that Verstappen is staying put, Toto Wolff was cagey when asked in Budapest about the current state of play and why the bizarre situation has arisen, where Mercedes are also managing Russell’s F1 career. George joined the Mercedes driver academy in 2017 and was sent on loan to Williams in 2019.
He replaced Valtteri Bottas in 2022 and now in his fourth season with Mercedes remains bound by the deal the team struck with him back in 2017. Wolff attempted to explain the strange situation, which sees Russell negotiating with Mercedes who in fact manage his 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,” explained the Austrian.
“And for that, for a certain time, we have management rights, and it’s very similar to what Red Bull does,” added Toto and that this system in fact strengthens the relationship between the team and its proteges, while giving Mercedes some value should the drivers prove to be successful. When or even if there is a sunset clause in this kind of arrangement is unclear, but for now Russell in his ninth year with Mercedes remains bound by the junior driver deal he signed back in 2017.
In Hungary following Verstappen’s confirmation he will remain at Red Bull next year, Russell was again asked about the state of a new contract with Mercedes. And the British driver appeared to be full of fighting spirit, with his arch rival no longer making a claim for his 2026 race seat.
Lawson accusations against Red Bull
Russell tries to stand firm
When asked if the Verstappen announcement had now paved the way for a deal to be struck with Mercedes before racing resumed in Zandvoort, Russell had this to say: “Nothing is going to happen over the summer because I just want to have a rest and recharge and come back stronger for the second half of the year but there’s no time pressure either way. It will happen when it happens, it’s a when not if.
“I’m 27 now, I’ve been with the team four years, next year would be my fifth and we want to build the relationship together but it’s got to be right and I don’t want to rush it. I’ve been waiting 12 months, I’m not going to just rush it in the course of two weeks so we’ll sit down when the time is right.”
Whilst Max is out of the picture for 2026, should Mercedes prove to have a dominant car after the huge 2026 regulation shakeup, as sure as eggs are eggs, the topic will raise its head once again next season. The bind Russell finds himself in is that his boss wants to again sign one of those Wolff “one plus one” specials, which if delivered is a sure sign the Mercedes boss has his sights set on Max for 2027.
Mercedes lengthy junior tie ins, a ‘restraint of trade’?
With all the front running F1 seats now confirmed for 2026 (bar Red Bull no.2 – but then again its not a front running seat on current form), Russell has now bargaining chips in his hand. He stated at the Hungaroring that money is of no concern, which leaves the security and length of term of any new contract, top of the list for George.
And all this raises the question as to how long should a Formula One team be allowed to tie in a young driver to their management fold, given the anti ‘restriction of trade’ laws which exist in the UK and Europe. These laws allow for a person to have their ability to ‘trade’ (take up certain kinds of employment) restricted, but not for years on end as Russell is now suffering.
Whilst its understandable a Formula One team can spend millions on a young driver’s education, is it reasonable after seven seasons of F1 racing, for them to yet be bound to an agreement sign so very long ago?
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“Let’s face it, a lot of the great talents are already under contract. Fortunately still there are a few out there — three or four; I’ll say maybe three — that certainly deserve consideration, and all of this is being looked upon very seriously. There are some conversations going on somewhere and in some other places. That’s as much as I can tell you to be fair to everyone,” revealed the 1978 F1 champion…. READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
