P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell ‘not committed’ to Mercedes F1 team
1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve believes George Russell is not fully committed to Mercedes, as he has not confirmed his plans beyond the 2025 season. Russell’s outstanding performances in 2025, with a race win and several podium finishes, have put him in contention for a new deal. There were talks of Mercedes pursuing Max Verstappen, but the Dutchman decided to stay with Red Bull for 2026. Villeneuve speculates that Russell may be engaging in unnecessary contract negotiations, despite Mercedes’ willingness to retain him. It is likely that Russell and his teammate Kimi Antonelli will be the Mercedes drivers for the 2026 season, though the official confirmation is still pending.
