George Russell is reportedly set to sign a new contract with Mercedes after a ‘breakthrough’ in negotiations between the British Grand Prix and this weekend’s race in Spa-Francorchamps. The Silver Arrows have been heavily linked with a move for Max Verstappen, which would likely have left the British racer on the sidelines.
Russell’s future has been a constant topic of debate this season, with the man from King’s Lynn out of contract come the end of 2025. The absence of a renewed deal has been made all the more confusing due to the Brit’s exceptional form. He sits just 18 points behind Verstappen in the standings with five podiums and a race victory to his name after 12 Grands Prix. According to a report from Auto Motor und Sport, that speculation is now set to end. The German outlet reports that Russell is ‘close to extending his contract’ after a ‘breakthrough in negotiations’.
While Russell’s new deal is reportedly close to being sealed, the four-time Grand Prix winner does not expect official confirmation to arrive before the summer break, which comes into effect after next weekend’s race at the Hungaroring.
“The intention was always pre-summer break, because that’s just people go into summer and you want to get something sorted,” Russell said on media day in Belgium. “Realistically, is that going to be the case? I don’t know.
“There is still no contract on the table. So to have something done in the space of two weeks isn’t likely. You need to talk about finer details, and Formula One’s evolving so much now, you need to go through everything with a fine-tooth comb to make sure it’s all okay.
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“But as I said, there is no rush, really, from my side, because ultimately, Toto and the team will decide what they wish to do, and I will be in a position of reacting to what they wish to do. So I’m just focusing on performance, and everything else will sort itself out.”
Russell’s confidence was echoed by team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who is also out of contract at the end of the season. The Italian teenager has experienced a mixed rookie campaign that has produced some immense highs, such as a sprint pole in Miami and maiden F1 podium in Montreal, but also some costly mistakes.
When asked about his personal contract talks in the Thursday press conference, Antonelli reiterated his faith in team principal Toto Wolff, and explained: “I’m sure the team knows what’s the best for especially next year, and I’m pretty confident that I’m in a good position.”