Günther Steiner observes that George Russell – especially after his second Grand Prix victory of the year in Singapore – holds all the cards in his ongoing contract negotiations with Mercedes. Although there seem to be no seats available at the top teams for Russell other than at the Silver Arrows, the German team itself also cannot get anyone else behind the wheel of their 2026 car. ‘George is thus in a pretty good negotiating position,’ says Steiner.
George Russell claimed his fifth Grand Prix victory in Singapore. It is also the second win of the year for the Brit, who thereby scored valuable points for Mercedes. The Silver Arrows are still embroiled in a battle for second place in the constructors’ championship with Ferrari. Yet, Russell is still waiting for a contract extension, and for now, he only knows for sure that he will be driving for the German racing team until the end of 2025. The new contract seems to be a mere formality, as both Russell and the team are keen to continue their collaboration.
According to Günther Steiner, there are still a few sticking points in the negotiations. “Russell will definitely get a contract,” the former Haas team boss is convinced. “If he doesn’t get a contract with Mercedes, he’ll get one with another team. George knows his worth, and he probably doesn’t want to accept the terms that Mercedes is offering. He wants the best for himself, and that’s more than a one-year contract.”
Russell’s Strong Negotiating Position
The former team boss believes that Wolff would prefer not to offer the British driver a multi-year contract extension, as he still harbors hopes of bringing Max Verstappen to Mercedes in the future. “I think Toto wants to give him a year, because if Max then wants to leave Red Bull, he has a spot for Max and his protege Kimi Antonelli,” Steiner continues. “And of course, George would then say: ‘That doesn’t work for me’. And at this moment, who’s performing? George. So he’s in a pretty good negotiating position.”
When asked how much influence Russell exactly has in the ongoing negotiations, given the lack of other available seats for 2026, Steiner was once again quite clear. “Mercedes is currently in an even more difficult position (than Russell). Who would they put there if he doesn’t sign a one-year contract? There’s no one else available, because Mercedes has to fight for world championships. They’re not here to participate as a mid-tier team. They’re here to win. So who else is there besides George?” the Italian wonders.
