George Russell remains unconcerned by rumors surrounding Max Verstappen’s potential move, insisting there’s no rush for a new Mercedes F1 contract.
Russell has emphasized that there is “no urgency” to sign a new contract with Mercedes F1, despite his current deal expiring at the end of 2025.
As his contract nears its end, rumors have swirled about Max Verstappen potentially joining Mercedes, should he choose to leave Red Bull Racing early. However, Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff has made it clear that, for now, Russell will continue alongside Kimi Antonelli for the next season.
But what if Verstappen becomes available? Does Russell worry about being the one to make way?
During the FIA press conference at the Japanese Grand Prix, Russell reassured everyone he was unfazed.
“From my side, there’s no concern about the contract,” he said. “Ultimately, contracts in Formula 1 are already in place, and not everything is known. Things change quickly. As for the Max rumors, I believe in myself. It’s about delivering performance. Simple as that.”
Russell: No Rush, Focused on Performance
When it comes to contract talks, Russell shared his experience with Mercedes: “In the past, with Toto, it would never take more than 24 hours to discuss things, and then the paperwork would go to the lawyers, and we’d reach an agreement.”
“Right now, there’s no rush. No concerns. No pressure. I’m happy with my current performance. I’m just enjoying racing, and that’s my main priority.”
Russell has had an impressive start to 2025, with podium finishes in the first two races of the season. He currently sits third in the F1 Drivers’ Championship, just nine points behind Lando Norris. However, despite the strong start, he remains “realistic.”
“The first two races have been excellent—two podiums—we couldn’t ask for more. But we have to stay grounded. It’s only the second race of a long season,” he noted.
“I don’t think Ferrari, and maybe even Red Bull, have fully unlocked their potential yet. We can’t get carried away thinking we can perform at this level every week, but we know that if we give our best, we’ll be in the mix.”
“We’ve always been strong in qualifying, but it was refreshing to see in China that our race pace was also solid, and we were the second-fastest team on the grid.”
“There are a lot of positives to take away. We’re in Japan now, which was probably one of our worst races last year, so it will be an interesting test to see if we can improve compared to the same time 12 months ago.”
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Russell Shrugs Off Verstappen Rumors, No Contract Rush
Russell Shrugs Off Verstappen Rumors, No Contract Rush
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