George Russell has spoken of there being “no rush” for himself and Mercedes to agree on a brand new deal, with the Briton’s future past 2025 but to be settled.
Mercedes haven’t formally confirmed Russell and workforce mate Kimi Antonelli’s locations on the squad for the 2026 season, although Silver Arrows boss Toto Wolff just lately commented that he intends to retain the pair “as it stands”.
It comes after Wolff overtly expressed his curiosity in reigning four-time World Champion Max Verstappen, who has since confirmed that he will continue with Red Bull into next year and the brand new period of F1 laws.
Talking simply earlier than the summer time break on the Hungarian Grand Prix, Russell said that there have been “no updates” concerning his contractual scenario with Mercedes, however he did say issues had been transferring “in the appropriate route”.
“To be sincere, now, with the time of the yr that we’re in, there’s no time stress from my aspect,” mentioned Russell. “There’s no main time stress from the workforce.
“The reality is, we’ve been involved so much this week, however nothing about contracts or the long run, as a result of we need to get the car back on track.
“After all, we’re having conversations concerning the future. Issues are moving into the appropriate route, but it surely’s not like we have to get this executed proper right here and proper now.
“We’ll get issues executed when the time is correct and never rush it, as a result of it’s an essential factor.”
Russell was then requested if signing his subsequent contract is a extra sophisticated course of than earlier offers, as he appears to go from a race winner to a title challenger.
“For certain,” the 27-year-old replied. “I’m seven years into F1 proper now. I really feel that I’m at my peak, and I nonetheless really feel that I’m getting stronger as a driver.
“I used to be possibly extra anxious about getting a deal executed possibly 12 months in the past, then six months in the past forward of 2026. However proper now, I’ve waited so lengthy that I need to ensure that it’s proper.
“It’s received to be proper for the workforce, it’s received to be proper for myself, it’s received to all make sense – the length must be proper each methods. So, it’s not so simple as simply saying, ‘Are you pleased with what you’re being paid?’ That’s a really small issue of it.
“You’ve received to place confidence in the efficiency sooner or later as nicely, as a result of I’d pay to be a World Champion, I’d pay to struggle for a World Championship, and that’s the place I’m proper now. That’s the precedence for me.”
