George Russell continues to express no urgency in signing a contract extension with Mercedes. The British driver reveals he has been waiting for clarity about his future with the Silver Arrows for twelve months, but he is confident that it’s only a matter of time before he sits down at the negotiation table with Toto Wolff among others. “I don’t want to rush it,” says Russell.
George Russell made a strong showing with his sixth podium of the season in Hungary. The Brit started the race in fourth place, but managed to overtake a fiercely defending Charles Leclerc in the final stages. Russell is still waiting for a contract extension with his current employer Mercedes – the Brit’s contract expires at the end of the year – but he probably won’t get any clarity until after the summer break, he tells himself after the race.
“Toto and I are both not worried,” Russell tells Sky Sports F1. “Nothing will happen during the summer, because I just want to rest, recharge and come back stronger for the second half of the season. There’s no time pressure, and it will happen when it happens. It’s a matter of ‘when it happens’ and not ‘if it happens’.” The driver, who has been with Mercedes since 2022, was previously told by team boss Toto Wolff that the Austrian would like to continue with Russell and teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the line-up.
No Rush
Russell has previously stated his loyalty to Mercedes, and he reiterates this in Hungary. “I’m now 27 years old, and have been driving for the team for four years. Next year will be my fifth year, and we want to continue building the relationship. However, it has to feel right for all parties and I don’t want to rush it. I’ve been waiting for twelve months, so it’s not suddenly necessary to get it done within two weeks. We will sit down at the table when the time is right.”
