George Russell remains unfazed over his Mercedes future, but admits some of the paddock’s wildest transfer rumours may carry real weight.
The 27-year-old British driver, now in the final year of his current contract with the Silver Arrows, says he’s not worried about securing an extension – and questions whether long-term deals in Formula 1 even matter anymore.
“Honestly, I feel no stress at all,” Russell said ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. “In this sport, contracts get a lot of attention, but at the end of the day, if a driver isn’t performing, they’re out – contract or not.”
“For us, performance is everything. That’s the currency we trade in. If you’re fast, you’re safe. So I’m just focused on delivering results this weekend. The rest will take care of itself.”
Russell has had a strong start to the 2025 season, landing on the podium three times in the first four races. He currently sits just 14 points behind championship leader Lando Norris.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced claiming Russell was close to signing a two-year extension with Mercedes, including an option for 2028. But the driver shut that down quickly.
“That rumor’s not true. But the ones about other drivers switching teams? Some of those are closer to the mark,” he said with a smile, subtly hinting at the ongoing speculation surrounding Max Verstappen.
“There’s always noise in the paddock. But like every year, we usually don’t talk contracts until May or June – and that’s no different this season.”
As for long-term deals, Russell made it clear he’s not a big believer.
“The weirdest thing to me is how many drivers do have long-term contracts these days,” he said. “Because in reality, everyone’s got exit clauses or performance clauses.”
“A three-year deal might sound solid, but it doesn’t mean much if a team or a driver wants out. In this sport, if a team wants to replace you, they’ll find a way.”
“And honestly? That’s how it should be. This is Formula 1. Only the best 20 drivers in the world get to be here. It’s ruthless. You can’t afford to lose focus – speed is the only thing that matters.”
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