P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has implied that Mercedes’ involvement in ongoing discussions with Max Verstappen is behind his wait to sign a new deal with the team in F1.
George Russell suggested that Mercedes’ ongoing discussions with Max Verstappen are causing delays in his contract renewal with the team in Formula 1. Despite his outstanding performance in the 2025 season with five podium finishes in 10 races, Russell remains calm about his contractual situation. Speculation arose that Mercedes is waiting to see if Verstappen is open to leaving Red Bull before committing to Russell long-term. Russell expressed his desire to continue with Mercedes into F1’s next era in 2026, emphasizing his focus on performance and confidence in his abilities. Mercedes’ delay in securing Russell’s extension has raised questions about their pursuit of Verstappen and the team’s aspirations to reclaim the top spot in F1’s driver lineup.
