George Russell is not losing sleep over the duration of his contract extension with Mercedes, whether it’s a one-year deal or a multi-year contract. The Brit emphasizes that performance is more important than the length of his commitment. “I want to win with Mercedes, that’s clear,” he says in Zandvoort.
“We’re having positive discussions, but we’re not in a rush,” he shares in the Mercedes motorhome. “Hopefully, we can announce something soon. There’s no pressure from my side and no pressure from the team. We’ve mainly been enjoying the summer break.”
Whether his new contract will last one or several seasons doesn’t bother him. “No, it’s mainly about the performance and there are benefits to both options. I want to win with Mercedes, that’s clear.”
Looking Ahead to 2026
For Russell, 2026 is particularly marked in his calendar, when the new regulations in Formula 1 will take effect. “Next year is such an important year for every team. I have a lot of confidence in Mercedes’ power unit. But McLaren, Alpine, and Williams will also be using it in 2026. And the reason we haven’t won a title in four years wasn’t because of our engine, we’re very aware of that.”
Meanwhile, his future remains a popular topic of conversation in the paddock. Does Russell get a bit tired of it? “It comes with the territory and you learn to live with it,” he says with a smile. “I’m giving you my answer now and then I’ll get back to work with my engineers. We’ll talk about it again in Monza, and in the races after that. Twenty-four times a year I have to deal with it, the rest of the year I can relax.”
