Toto Wolff has made it clear that George Russell will be staying at Mercedes in 2026. But the terms of his new contract, or an official announcement for that matter, are still unclear.
The Brit found himself in an awkward situation earlier in the year with his contract negotiations. Mercedes were seriously pursuing Max Verstappen as rumours emerged that he was looking to leave Red Bull.
But the Dutchman has committed to staying at the Milton Keynes outfit for next season. Subsequently, Mercedes are expected to retain Russell and Kimi Antonelli, but as of after the Azerbaijan GP, the pair are still waiting for their new contracts.
| DRIVER | TEAM |
| Franco Colapinto | Alpine* |
| George Russell | Mercedes |
| Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
*Franco Colapinto on a race-by-race contract
Toto Wolff has broken his promise to Russell, having previously stated that he would not wait until Monza to hand him a new contract. The Brit will want a long-term deal with the Silver Arrows, but the prospect of Verstappen joining the team hangs over him.
Russell may be forced to sign a one-year deal as Mercedes could look to strike a deal for the four-time champion in 2027. Verstappen has more favourable exit clauses in his contract next season, which could make him available if he is outside the top two in the championship.
Juan Pablo Montoya tells George Russell to join Red Bull or Aston Martin if Mercedes add Max Verstappen clause
Wolff could be preparing a new clause in Russell’s contract that could allow him to move the Brit on and sign Verstappen if he becomes available. The Austrian will not want to pass on the opportunity of securing the Dutchman’s signature.
If that were to happen, Juan Pablo Montoya sees a clear path for Russell to join Red Bull or Aston Martin. He thinks the 27-year-old would ‘consider it strongly’ if he were willing to move elsewhere.
Montoya said via AS Columbia: “He’s not going to put himself in that position. He’s not going to open the door for Mercedes to take him down. He’s not going to let that happen.
“At that point, it’s better to go to Red Bull, go to Aston Martin or something and go somewhere else. If he’s willing to go somewhere else, I think they would consider it strongly, right?
“Mercedes has no choice. Who is Mercedes going to put in the car? Yuki? Lindblad?”
READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height
Mercedes risk a strange situation with George Russell if he is approached by a rival in 2026
Mercedes have been ‘surprised’ by Wolff’s stance on Russell’s contract and how he appears hesitant to offer him a new deal. Sitting fourth in the standings with one win, it does seem bizarre that he has not been confirmed for 2026 yet.
Russell would certainly be one of the hottest free agents on the F1 driver market if he was to leave Mercedes. He wants assurances from Wolff that he will be in the team’s long-term plans.
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Oscar Piastri |
324 |
| 2 |
Lando Norris |
299 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
255 |
| 4 |
George Russell |
212 |
| 5 |
Charles Leclerc |
165 |
| 6 |
Lewis Hamilton |
121 |
| 7 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
78 |
| 8 |
Alexander Albon |
70 |
| 9 |
Isack Hadjar |
39 |
| 10 |
Nico Hulkenberg |
37 |
Russell’s management contract could present a strange situation for Mercedes, as they could end up negotiating his next deal with a rival team. In other words, they could end up talking to the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari, Aston Martin etc to let their driver go.
Aston Martin have been interested in Russell, while Red Bull seemed to be keen on his services under Christian Horner’s leadership. He is an attractive option for teams in the paddock; Mercedes may have to act fast before they lose him.