George Russell says he understands the reasons why Mercedes have not yet offered him a new contract for next year.
His Canadian Grand Prix victory was his fifth podium finish this year which leaves him on the fringes of the championship fight between the McLaren drivers and Max Verstappen. However Russell remains without a contract for next year.
Despite speculation Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is trying to lure Verstappen away from Red Bull, Russell said he doesn’t feel the need to press his case within the team for a new contract.
“I don’t need to chase because I feel that I’m doing a good job,” he told the official F1 channel. “It goes both ways: I need them, they need me and that’s how it goes.
“Mercedes is so ambitious, they want to be back on top. They need to understand and think, how are we going to bring Mercedes back on top? You need to have the best team principal, you need to have the best drivers in your car. You need have the best engineers within your team.”
However he acknowledged he faces a potential rival for a 2026 Mercedes seat. “Toto’s made it clear to me that he thinks how I’m performing this year is as good as anybody,” he said. “I think there’s only one driver that you can debate in terms of performance – and these are his words, these are not my words – so that’s why I have no concern about the future.
“But there’s two seats [at] every team and I guess he needs to think, who are those two drivers going to be for those two seats? And I think that’s what the delay is.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who joined Mercedes this year, says he would be happy with either Russell or Verstappen as his team mate.
“I don’t mind, to be honest,” he said. “They’re two very good drivers.
“I’m very happy with George, to be honest. I think there’s a really good dynamic in the team at the moment and we’re working well together because obviously as team mates we’re rivals, but it’s a good rivalry.
“We also have another goal in common, which is to try to do the best for Mercedes as well, to bring it back on top. So I think this dynamic is really helping me, us in general, and the team as well.
“But especially me, because thanks to him I’m able to push myself even further forward and try to get even better. I don’t mind either, but I have to be honest, I’m really happy with George at the moment.”
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a daily email with all our latest stories – and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
2025 Austrian Grand Prix
- Hamilton ‘more focused on changes in background for 2026’ than floor upgrade
- Russell explains “delay” in 2026 contract talks with Mercedes
- Will Norris rebound after Montreal blunder? Six Austrian GP talking points
- Dunne to make F1 practice debut in Norris’s car at Austrian Grand Prix
- How to watch the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix
