P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell is out of contract at Mercedes, and Toto Wolff is a BIG Max Verstappen fan.
George Russell believes that the delay in signing a new contract with Mercedes may be because the team is still pursuing Max Verstappen’s signature. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has indicated that it’s a matter of time until Russell agrees to extend his stay with the team. However, Wolff is eager to attract Verstappen to Mercedes, but his interest waned at the beginning of the year due to Russell and Antonelli’s strong performances. Verstappen has hinted at staying with Red Bull until 2026, but his future beyond that remains uncertain. Russell explains that he thinks the delay in his new contract with Mercedes is related to the pursuit of Verstappen. He remains focused on driving fast and states that as long as he performs well, he has nothing to worry about regarding his future in Formula 1.
