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Toto Wolff shifts blame to George Russell over ’embarrassing’ Mercedes contract saga
Toto Wolff has pointed the finger at George Russell for the increased attention on his Mercedes F1 contract negotiations, as the team principal once again discussed the ongoing talks with the British racing star whose contract expires at the end of 2026. Amid the discussions with Max Verstappen, Wolff suggested it was actually the media’s pressure that made the situation more intense, rather than the negotiations themselves being an issue. Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham further questioned Wolff on Russell’s role in bringing the talks into the spotlight, suggesting that Russell may have wanted to hasten the process due to perceived pressure. Wolff placed the blame on Russell for triggering the media coverage by acknowledging conversations with Verstappen, which led to what Brundle described as an ’embarrassing’ situation. Despite speculations of Verstappen possibly joining Mercedes, Red Bull’s Helmut Marko confirmed that the champion will stay with the team in 2026, although there hasn’t been an official announcement. The dynamic between Russell and Verstappen will be interesting to watch, especially if Mercedes proves to be the dominant team in 2026, and depending on the nature of contract offers that may come Russell’s way this season.
