Russell Addresses Verstappen Speculation and Mercedes Contract Status

George Russell states he holds “no hard feelings” regarding rumors connecting Max Verstappen to Mercedes and is “not in a rush” concerning his own contract talks to remain with the team.

Neither Russell nor his teammate Kimi Antonelli have been officially confirmed for a Mercedes seat in 2026. Speculation arose earlier this year that Verstappen might make a surprise move to Mercedes after Red Bull`s initially disappointing season start.

Red Bull`s performance has improved since then, narrowing the gap to McLaren. Verstappen secured wins in Suzuka and Imola, yet he is still third in the Drivers` Championship, trailing leader Oscar Piastri by 43 points.

Last year, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff publicly tried to sign Verstappen, but stated three months ago in March that a surprising transfer for the current world champion was “not being considered.”

It is understood that Verstappen`s contract includes a clause allowing him to leave Red Bull after this season if, in the unlikely event, he is not among the top four in the Drivers` Championship at the beginning of the F1 summer break, which follows the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3.

Verstappen currently holds a 41-point lead over Charles Leclerc, who is in fifth place, while Russell is fourth in the standings.

“There have been no hard feelings regarding any of the discussions happening, particularly concerning Max,” Russell commented after his win at the Canadian Grand Prix.

“As I`ve mentioned many times, why wouldn`t teams be interested in Max? If all drivers were out of contract for next year, Max would be the top choice for every team. That`s completely understandable.

However, every team only has two seats. I knew that if I kept performing as I am, my position wouldn`t be threatened at all. So, I feel confident in my situation.”

F1 Driver Contracts Overview

On Monday, reports indicated Aston Martin is interested in Russell to spearhead their efforts from 2026, even though Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are contracted for next season.

Speaking before these reports surfaced, Russell maintained that he sees his future with Mercedes.

“I am not in discussions with any other teams that have shown interest,” he stated.

“I have been very open about my intention to remain with Mercedes. That has always been clear. I am loyal to Mercedes; they gave me my opportunity in Formula 1.”

Russell added, “We are not hurrying into contract negotiations. We want to achieve victories together, particularly Kimi and I as teammates.

We are achieving results like in Canada; both of us came up through the Mercedes junior program. We are both delivering in terms of performance. Why would you want to change something that`s effective?”

Wolff: Russell Contract `All on Plan`

Russell joined Mercedes from Williams in 2022 and has established himself as the team`s primary driver since Lewis Hamilton`s departure at the end of last year.

The 27-year-old finished with only two fewer points than Hamilton across their three seasons as teammates and clearly had the edge over the seven-time world champion in their final year together.

He has maintained his strong performance this season, achieving four podium finishes and securing Mercedes` first win of the year at the Canadian Grand Prix.

“He has been with us for a long time,” stated Mercedes team principal Wolff.

“He is developing, and the progress he`s shown, from being a young driver at Williams to joining Mercedes during a challenging period, matching Lewis`s performance, and now clearly being the lead driver since Lewis left, feels very natural.

There isn`t any political maneuvering involved. He has simply earned the position he holds. The team atmosphere is excellent, and we have agreed on a general timeframe for finalizing these matters.

With the busy schedule of triple-headers and races packed into June and July, we will get there eventually.

He has been part of the Mercedes junior program since 2016. His contract status isn`t dependent on winning a specific race or performance because we already know his capabilities.”

Asked about a new contract for Russell at a recent movie premiere, Wolff concluded, “Everything is proceeding according to plan.”

Brundle on Russell`s `Perfect` Canada Performance and Future

Martin Brundle (Sky Sports F1 pundit):

“His performance in Canada was perfect. Pole position, fastest lap, race win – it was quite smooth.

When George is leading like that, you don`t question how he`ll handle the pressure. You don`t even give it a second thought.

You know he won`t lock up his brakes or make a foolish error. He`s focused and possesses the speed, consistency, and confidence, which was evident once more in Canada.

We saw last year that he largely outperformed Lewis. He has thrived in the role of team leader. He has emerged from Lewis`s shadow – someone he still respectfully calls `the GOAT` and states he `learned from`.”

Brundle on why Mercedes hasn`t finalized a new contract with Russell yet:

“Former McLaren boss Ron Dennis used to say, `What`s the point of deciding early if you have the contractual advantage?` It`s somewhat like landing with plenty of runway left – it`s not useful to you then.

I suspect they believe it motivates George. Perhaps their thinking is, `George is performing well here, let`s not rush the contract`.”