George Russell has had a remarkable start to the 2025 Formula 1 season, consistently delivering strong performances. It`s becoming increasingly surprising that Mercedes has not yet offered the British driver a new contract.
The 27-year-old driver has achieved three podium finishes in the first four races and is currently only 14 points behind championship leader Lando Norris.
Russell, along with Max Verstappen, is considered one of the top performing drivers this season, maximizing the potential of his Mercedes car.
His outstanding performances have garnered widespread praise, including from Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who considers Russell among the top drivers in Formula 1.
Despite Wolff`s positive assessment and Russell`s consistent results, it remains unclear why contract negotiations haven`t progressed, especially as he enters the final year of his current agreement.
Recent reports suggest conflicting information about the status of Russell`s contract extension, prompting analysis into the reasons behind the delay.
Russell`s Current Contract
Russell`s last contract renewal occurred in August 2023, when he and Lewis Hamilton both signed deals reportedly extending through the 2025 season.
In February 2024, Hamilton`s move to Ferrari for 2025 revealed that his Mercedes contract included an option for either party to terminate it at the end of 2024.
It`s uncertain if Russell`s contract had the same clause, but Hamilton`s departure provided Russell with the opportunity to become the team`s primary driver.
In the 2024 season, Russell outperformed Hamilton in qualifying and finished ahead in the driver standings, demonstrating his capability.
Mercedes` decision to potentially bring in rookie Kimi Antonelli for 2025 further emphasized Russell`s role as the experienced team leader.
The 2025 season has started with Russell establishing a significant points lead over Antonelli, reinforcing his position within the team.
Contract Situation Compared to Other Top Drivers
Considering the contract status of other leading F1 drivers, Mercedes` delay in renewing Russell`s contract is unusual.
McLaren has secured long-term contracts with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, proactively extending Norris`s contract to 2027 and Piastri`s to 2028.
Max Verstappen also signed a long-term contract with Red Bull through 2028 back in 2022.
Ferrari, in a similar situation with Leclerc and Sainz entering the final year of their contracts, eventually extended Leclerc`s deal while replacing Sainz with Hamilton.
Mercedes and the Verstappen Factor
A key factor in Mercedes` contract decisions could be Max Verstappen. Following Hamilton`s announcement to leave, Toto Wolff publicly expressed interest in Verstappen, particularly given internal issues at Red Bull.
Although Wolff acknowledged that Verstappen was unlikely to move for 2025, he maintained interest for 2026, coinciding with new engine regulations that could benefit Mercedes.
However, with Verstappen`s continued success at Red Bull, Wolff stated before the 2025 season that pursuing Verstappen was no longer a priority.
Despite this, recent concerns about Verstappen`s future at Red Bull might lead Mercedes to reconsider their options.
Russell and Verstappen as Team-mates?
Past tensions between Verstappen and Russell raise questions about their potential compatibility as team-mates.
Furthermore, signing Verstappen could mean sidelining Antonelli, a young driver Mercedes has heavily invested in.
While some believe Mercedes might hesitate to create a potentially volatile driver pairing, others suggest that Toto Wolff would prioritize talent and consider a Russell-Verstappen line-up as exceptionally strong.
Experts believe that despite Russell`s strong performance, Mercedes might still pursue Verstappen if the opportunity arises, highlighting the competitive nature of Formula 1.
Future Steps
As the season progresses, the lack of a new contract for Russell becomes more noticeable.
Recent reports vary, with some suggesting an imminent two-year extension for Russell, while others indicate that no agreement is currently in place.
Both Russell and Wolff have publicly downplayed the contract situation, expressing confidence in their relationship. However, Wolff`s recent statements appear less definitive than earlier assurances.
Wolff reiterated Mercedes` commitment to Russell as a homegrown talent, but contractually, nothing is finalized.
Russell maintains a relaxed stance, noting that previous contract talks were swift. Yet, it`s likely he would welcome a contract extension given Mercedes` potential.
From Mercedes` perspective, delaying a decision might be strategic to keep options open, including a potential move for Verstappen. However, the uncertainty surrounding Russell`s future will likely intensify with ongoing strong performances.
Ultimately, Russell`s continued success on the track strengthens his position, making it difficult for Mercedes to ignore his value to the team.
