P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes contract announcement takes twist after Russell U-turn
George Russell is not anticipating an announcement about his Mercedes F1 contract during the summer break, despite ongoing speculation.
Rumors about Toto Wolff’s interest in signing Max Verstappen to the team caused questions regarding Russell’s contract extension.
After Verstappen confirmed he would stay with Red Bull, Russell still awaits official news about his future with Mercedes.
Despite a strong showing at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli’s contract extensions remain unannounced.
Mercedes has yet to reveal their driver lineup for the upcoming seasons, leaving fans and experts wondering about the hold-up.
Russell maintains that there is no rush for a decision, emphasizing that the timing is not as crucial as the eventual outcome.
With Russell appearing to have leverage in the negotiations, the ball is in Mercedes’ court to secure the talented driver for the long term.
