George Russell hints at Mercedes stay but won’t rule out a shock move in 2026 as Formula 1’s driver market heats up.
While George Russell insists he wants to stay with Mercedes beyond 2025, the door to a potential team switch in Formula 1 is now slightly ajar.
The British driver, currently in strong form but out of contract at the end of next season, says his future remains wide open, and that includes exploring all options on the grid.
“I want to be with Mercedes next year,” Russell said at Imola. “That’s where I see myself. But everything has to make sense. It has to be the right fit. And right now, there’s no reason it wouldn’t be.”
Still, team principal Toto Wolff has yet to confirm any extension for Russell, even though he’s consistently praised the 27-year-old’s performance.
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“George is leading the way,” Wolff said. “He’s always at the front and gets the best out of the car on Sundays.”
But Wolff also isn’t rushing the contract talks.
“We have a timeline,” he explained. “We’re on track with George. If I set a public deadline, it just adds unnecessary pressure. We agreed to sit down early this summer.”
Complicating the situation is the looming shadow of Max Verstappen. If the reigning world champion decides to leave Red Bull — a possibility he hasn’t completely dismissed — Mercedes could make a play for him. That, in turn, could push Russell toward a seat at Red Bull.
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Would Russell even want to race for Red Bull, though?
“The atmosphere here is very relaxed,” Wolff noted. “Kimi [Antonelli] and George are working well together despite the pressure. At Red Bull, the pressure is very different.”
Russell’s name is also being floated in other paddocks — including Ferrari, in the event that Lewis Hamilton decides to walk away from his struggling stint there. Wolff, however, dismissed retirement rumors.
“People are too quick to write Lewis off,” he said.
If things align, Russell says he’d gladly continue with Mercedes. But he’s not ruling anything out.
“I’ve always said I’d be happy to race alongside any driver on the grid,” he explained. “So no, nothing’s off the table for next year. The driver market could shift a lot.”
Asked directly whether his future depends on Verstappen’s decision, Russell simply smiled and said: “I think the media knows the story.”
Since Hamilton’s departure and the arrival of Antonelli, Russell says the team atmosphere has never been better.
“It’s calmer. The energy in the team is really positive right now,” he added.
Russell, already a three-time Grand Prix winner, may prefer to stay put — but with a shifting F1 landscape, he’s clearly keeping his options open.
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