George Russell has arguably never driven better than he has in 2025, yet he spent much of yesterday fielding questions over his future while Mercedes attempts to tempt Max Verstappen away from Red Bull. Formula 1 is a ruthless business, isn’t it?
The 27-year-old’s deal expires at the end of this year. Despite claiming several podium finishes this season, plus victory in Canada three weeks ago, he is effectively waiting to discover whether the four-time champion will switch teams before the major engine and regulations overhaul in 2026.
George Russell’s Mercedes future
Matters plainly would not have progressed this far if Max were not willing to leave Red Bull. However, it remains uncertain whether the performance clauses in his contract - which could release him from an agreement intended to last until the end of 2028 - will be triggered.
Russell, however, is unconcerned. “I feel I’m performing better than ever,” he said in the build up to this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone. “And it’s as simple as that really. Performance speaks for everything.
“The fact is, Toto [Wolff, team boss] has never let me down. He’s always given me his word, but he’s also got to do what’s right for his team. Which includes me, but it also includes the thousands of people who work for Mercedes. For me, it’s nothing to worry about because I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere.”
That sounds defiant, doesn’t it? Mercedes could, naturally, opt to drop 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli and pair Russell with Verstappen. Yet there is significant bad blood between the two drivers, which became personal last year and was hardly eased when Max hit the side of George’s car in Spain last month.
A possible Verstappen partnership at Mercedes
Having been permanently marked by the experience of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg sharing the same garage, you would imagine Toto Wolff would, well, prefer not to repeat it.
Even so, Russell says he is prepared to share a team with anybody. “Every team has two seats available, and it’s normal that every team is considering what the future holds,” he explains. “And I don’t take that personally because I made it clear from the beginning: I’m happy to be teammates with anybody.”
He says he is confident enough not to be speaking with rival teams, and has set no deadline for resolving his own contract. Even if he does need to seek a new team, he is calm about that possibility.
“Any teams who did reach out in the past, I said, ‘Look, I am loyal to Mercedes. That’s where my future lies.’ But there hasn’t been a lack of interest, let’s say.
“I am loyal to Mercedes. At the end of the day, everything will work itself out. And the likelihood I’m not at Mercedes next year, I think is exceptionally low.”
Yet still... what are the chances of Russell being on the Red Bull grid next season?
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