George Russell is still engaged in contract negotiations with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. The Brit is having an excellent season for the Silberpfeile – he claimed his second victory of the year at the last GP in Singapore – but a new signature is still pending. According to analyst and former driver Ralf Schumacher, this is causing ‘unrest’ within the Mercedes ranks.
Russell is one of the few drivers who does not yet have a contract for the upcoming Formula 1 season. Although it is almost certain that he will drive for Mercedes again next year, the talks about his new deal are difficult. In Singapore, Wolff confirmed to Sky Sports and Schumacher that both Russell and Antonelli are ‘confirmed’ for 2026, but an official announcement is still pending. In the Backstage Boxengasse podcast, Schumacher explains that the negotiations are beginning to take their toll within the Mercedes camp.
“There was a sense of unrest,” said Schumacher. “Toto Wolff had cancelled an interview with us shortly after qualifying. I suspect that the negotiations with Russell were the reason for this, because on Sunday he admitted that both drivers will drive for Mercedes again. Somehow, Russell was not in a good mood. I think a lot was discussed that Saturday and an agreement was reached – that was my feeling, because otherwise Toto would not have stood in front of the camera. There is also a rumor that Russell no longer wants Toto as an advisor, in any form.”
The Threat of Max Verstappen
According to Schumacher, Russell’s performance as a driver suffered during the period when Mercedes was openly courting Max Verstappen. “You get that feeling,” he said. “I think there was tension, especially under these circumstances.” Wolff has been overseeing Russell since his Formula 1 debut, but due to protracted negotiations, the British driver is now considering a change of management – a serious conflict of interest has been revealed in recent weeks.
Schumacher believes that Russell is still concerned about the close ties between Wolff and Verstappen. In the first half of the season, the Dutch driver was repeatedly linked to a move to Mercedes, which overshadowed Russell’s performances. Although Verstappen confirmed his loyalty to Red Bull ahead of the summer break, he was later spotted on a yacht with Wolff. “Of course, you have to admit that Max Verstappen is better,” concluded Schumacher. “He is the best in the world. But when your own team boss says: ‘Hold on, there might be someone better than you’, that’s hard to swallow. And of course, in the right car, Russell can also compete for the title. Verstappen just does it a bit better.”
