Mercedes are still yet to confirm a driver for the 2026 Formula 1 season, despite suggesting that their line-up will remain the same for months.
Nobody quite understands the reason for the delay, and it seems slightly harsh on George Russell, given his strong performances. He’s fourth in the drivers’ championship and claimed their only victory of the campaign in Canada.
There are a handful of drivers who could emulate what he has achieved for Mercedes this season, and it should see him rewarded well within his next deal, or so you would presume. Something is holding the next deal up, and time is running out for contracts to be exchanged ahead of the 2026 F1 regulations.
Mercedes were ‘very close’ to replacing Russell with Valtteri Bottas after an illness at the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Even rival advisor Helmut Marko thinks Mercedes should re-sign Russell and that it would be a good move for the team.
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Mercedes could face strange negotiations with George Russell in 2026 if approached by F1 rivals
Russell wants ‘reassurance’ from Toto Wolff in the form of a promise that he can’t be replaced by Max Verstappen after 2026, should he manage to wiggle free from his Red Bull contract, which is set to run until the end of 2028.
The Dutchman dominated the summer headlines, amid rumours that he might have been looking for a way out of his current team following a drop in form. One change in team boss later, and matters are starting to heal at the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
If Russell can only find short-term security, he may find himself in one strange situation at the end of 2026. The Italian edition of Motorsport.com reports that Russell’s management contract with Mercedes could mean that they end up negotiating for his next deal with a rival team.
In other words, Mercedes could be negotiating with the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari, Alpine, or any other rival to let their driver go. It’s in their best interests to get the best deal for him, but it would be an incredibly rare scenario by modern standards.
When did George Russell sign his last Mercedes Formula 1 contract?
Russell’s last Mercedes deal was signed over two years ago, when he was just over one season into his duties with the team.
By then, he had already proven himself capable of beating Lewis Hamilton on a regular basis, and since he left them last winter, Russell has transformed into a very able team leader.
His leadership and on-track approach have developed, and there’s no one who could replace what he brings them right now.
It guarantees his renewal, but it does mean that somewhere there is a disagreement over the terms of his deal. As a loyal servant to his team, a deal should arrive sooner rather than later. It has already been weeks since the original promised date [Italian Grand Prix] passed.