Russell: No Rush - No Worries Over Mercedes Deal

With his contract expiring soon, George Russell remains unfazed, prioritizing Mercedes’ performance over securing his F1 future early.

George Russell isn’t losing sleep over his contract situation, even as Mercedes F1 postpones decisions on its driver lineup until later in the season.

In Melbourne, team principal Toto Wolff reassured him that Mercedes remains committed to its current duo and isn’t looking elsewhere—despite ongoing rumors about Max Verstappen.

However, Wolff also made it clear that discussions about contract extensions would have to wait.

Russell’s deal expires at the end of this season, just like Kimi Antonelli’s, who was confirmed for only a one-year stint despite having a long-term partnership with Mercedes.

But the Briton, now in his fourth season with the Silver Arrows, isn’t concerned about waiting, even as other drivers secure multi-year agreements.

“No Rush—If You Perform, Teams Will Want You”

“If you perform well, teams will want you. It’s not like I need to rush into signing a contract because the team doesn’t want me anymore,” Russell said confidently.

“Extending my deal will be easy. There’s no urgency. We’re taking our time and seeing how the season unfolds.”

He also pointed out that contract talks go beyond just locking in a seat for the coming years—they tie into the team’s long-term vision.

“We also need to consider how the car will evolve leading up to 2026. At some point, we’ll transition from the W16 to the new generation. The regulation changes are massive, not just for 2026 but for the years beyond.”

“This isn’t just about signing a deal and moving on. We’re potentially talking about the next three, four, or even five years of our careers.”

“Right Now, The Focus Is on Winning”

“When the time is right, we’ll go through everything,” he assured.

“But for now, that’s not the priority. The focus is on bringing Mercedes back to the top. If it doesn’t happen this year, then we’ll push for it next season.”