P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has quipped that he is sure George Russell will “sleep well” across the F1 summer break as he edges nearer to penning a new deal.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff expressed confidence that George Russell will be calm during the F1 summer break, as discussions for a new deal progress.
Despite rumors of a potential move, Wolff stated that his priority is to keep Russell alongside rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Mercedes.
Max Verstappen is likely to stay at Red Bull, with the guarantee of a top-three position preventing his exit clause from activating.
Negotiations between Mercedes and Russell, who has had a successful season, are expected to conclude soon, potentially securing a multi-year extension until 2027.
Wolff remains open to the idea of a Russell-Verstappen pairing but acknowledges the challenges it may bring, akin to the Prost-Senna rivalry.
Russell’s decision to reveal talks with Verstappen was seen as a way to demonstrate awareness of team discussions and engage with the media.
