George Russell is still awaiting a contract extension. The British driver currently has a contract with Mercedes until the end of this season, but it remains officially unclear whether the Silver Arrows want Russell to start in 2026. Unofficially, Toto Wolff has previously indicated that the priority within Mercedes currently lies with their current line-up, consisting of Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Nevertheless, two teams have reportedly taken the opportunity to approach the 27-year-old Brit.
“I remain loyal to Mercedes,” George Russell said in early June. At that time, rumors about Max Verstappen‘s move to the Silver Arrows were still rife in the paddock. Two months later, however, the Brit still has no clarity about his future. An official contract extension is still pending, even as the drivers enjoy the summer break. Russell already said during the Hungarian GP that he does not expect Mercedes to come up with a contract extension during the four-week break.
Cadillac and Aston Martin
Although team boss Toto Wolff had previously reassured the Mercedes driver about his future – “For us, the course is clear: we want to continue with George and Kimi” – this reportedly did not prevent two teams from also approaching Russell. Aston Martin has reportedly been considering George Russell as their new lead driver for some time, while newcomer Cadillac, according to Sky Sports, is interested in a collaboration with the driver. Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner also reportedly had the 27-year-old on his shortlist.
Negotiations with Mercedes are meanwhile, according to sport.de, mainly stuck due to disagreement over the duration of the contract extension. While Russell is reportedly pushing for a long-term contract, Wolff reportedly prefers a contract only until the end of 2026.
