George Russell concedes his Mercedes seat isn’t secure as 2026 looms, with Max Verstappen still linked to the Silver Arrows.
George Russell has admitted that “nothing is certain” as he looks to secure his future in Formula 1 with Mercedes and fight for his first world title in the medium term.
Russell’s contract expires at the end of the current season, leaving the door open for a potential replacement by Max Verstappen. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff publicly courted Verstappen last year, as he searched for a successor to Lewis Hamilton.
The Dutchman is contracted until 2028, but performance clauses in his deal have raised doubts about his future, especially given Red Bull’s current form.
While Wolff’s interest appears to have cooled in recent months, Russell conceded that his position is not fully protected.
“As I’ve said, if Toto can get Max, I think he will take him. So no, my seat is not guaranteed. Nothing is certain,” Russell said today.
“But if I stay at Mercedes, next year would be my fifth year with the team. No one knows when their time will come.”
“You just have to make sure you’re consistently performing. What happens next—only time will tell if we’ve got it right.”
Mercedes F1 is already considered one of the favourites for the 2026 regulation changes. As he seeks to remain with the team, Russell hopes the next era will give him the chance to fight for his first title.
“Look at Fernando Alonso: he came in, won two titles in his first four years, and people said, ‘He’ll win ten.’ He hasn’t won a title in 20 seasons since. Or Sebastian [Vettel]: he won four, then nothing after that. Take Michael Schumacher: it took him five years at Ferrari to win his first title there.”
“This is my fourth year at Mercedes, and next year would be my fifth. So I’m hoping to follow Michael’s path rather than Fernando’s or Seb’s.”