Although George Russell is expected to extend his contract with Mercedes, the British driver – like most drivers – is understood to be exploring his options. According to the latest rumours, George Russell and Red Bull boss Christian Horner have held “informal” talks in recent weeks.
While this certainly does not mean that a successful move is inevitable, these allegations highlight the unpredictable nature of the market.
Mercedes happy with Russell and Antonelli
For obvious reasons, Russell is considered an integral part of the Mercedes project – both inside and outside the team. His results this season (currently the only driver to finish 5th or higher in every race) have highlighted his abilities.
But will that be why Russell and Mercedes agree to continue their partnership beyond 2026? Last weekend in Jeddah, Toto Wolff reportedly dismissed suggestions that he was still following Max Verstappen. Speculation about Wolff’s interest in Verstappen can be traced back to 2024 – when the Mercedes boss was vocal about his admiration for the Dutchman. However, the 53-year-old has a slightly different story this year. Wolff and Mercedes insist they are happy with their driver line-up.
With the Silver Arrows expected to be able to produce the best engines for the 2026 regulations, the new deal between Russell and Mercedes seems at first glance to be a simple move.
George Russell in no rush to agree on new contract
Indeed, a new deal would be a win-win for both parties. Both Mercedes and Russell are poised to capitalize when the next generation of cars arrives in 2026. On the other hand, there are several variables to consider in the driver market. When speaking to the media last weekend, George Russell was relatively nonchalant about his contract situation. The Briton did make some interesting comments about contracts in general.
“From my side, there’s literally no stress, no worries whatsoever,” Russell told Sky Sports. “When it comes to contracts, everyone is very excited about it. The fact is that drivers have contracts – and if they don’t fulfil them, they get kicked out.”
“For drivers, performance is our currency, it’s what you have. If you’re performing, everything’s good. So I’m just excited to race this weekend, focus on performance and the future will take care of itself.”
Russell’s relaxed comments speak to the influence he has in negotiations – thanks to his consistently strong record. With Mercedes seen as early favorites for 2026, the 27-year-old is expected to use his strong position to cement his position at the German team, but that is just speculation.
The latest report from The Race – about informal talks between Russell and Red Bull – does not automatically indicate a change in the British driver’s relationship with Mercedes.
On the other hand, there are still many unknown variables that could complicate things over the coming months. Perhaps the most significant is Max Verstappen’s exit clause.
Verstappen’s future
Rumors about the future of Max Verstappen dominated the first few weeks of the current season. If Red Bull are unable to find more performance on the RB21, this speculation will only intensify as 2025 progresses.
Even if the Austrian team can make significant improvements this year, their prospects for the 2026 regulations are uncertain. Everything indicates that their power units will be behind proven manufacturers next year. Of course, that doesn’t diminish Red Bull’s chances when the new rules arrive. What it does mean, however, is that Verstappen will be wary of any opportunity to commit long-term. While Red Bull insists Verstappen will fulfill his contract (which expires in 2028), exit clauses could be triggered under certain conditions.
The Austrian team is aware of this – which is why it makes sense for them to familiarize themselves with all possible options. This does not mean that Russell will join Red Bull. But there is no evidence to suggest that Russell will sign a new contract with Mercedes in the coming months.
