Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says there is “no gamesmanship” in his contract talks with George Russell and revealed a new deal is “a formality”.
Russell and Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli are both out of contract at the end of this year, with the British driver stating ahead of this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix that he chose to delay negotiations over the summer break to ensure “everything is right”.
Sky Sports News understands talks between Mercedes and Russell have been advancing towards a multi-year deal which would see him stay at the team until at least the end of 2027.
“George is a Mercedes driver and Kimi as well. They are part of the team, part of the structure,” Wolff told Sky Sports F1 at Zandvoort.
“Where we are is formalities. How can we optimise his performance, his marketing days, his travel? These are not trivial things. We have started to sit down and put our heads together to discuss that. [It is] a formality.”
George Russell reveals that he paused contract talks with Mercedes during the F1 summer break
In June, Russell stated talks over a new contract were being held up by Wolff talking to Max Verstappen over a seismic signing that would see the four-time world champion join Mercedes. Last month, Verstappen confirmed he would stay at Red Bull next year.
Asked if Russell was now delaying negotiations, Wolff responded: “No, not at all. George has been with us for 10 years. There’s no gamesmanship or games being played with each other.
“The target is to have each other in the best possible place, so there is no negotiating tactic on either side.”
Russell: No major time pressure over new Mercedes contract
Russell is seen as one of the best drivers on the grid, having produced an impressive 2024 campaign, dominating Lewis Hamilton in qualifying and finishing 22 points clear of his team-mate in the driver’s standings despite losing out on a victory in Belgium because of a disqualification that was not his fault.
The chance to assert himself was further enhanced when Wolff decided to gamble on putting hugely-inexperienced Antonelli in the other 2025 Mercedes car, with the Italian teenager sure to need some time to find his feet at motorsport’s top level.
This season has seen Russell do just that, scoring six podiums and taking Mercedes’ only realistic opportunity of winning at the Canadian Grand Prix.
George Russell joins Karun Chandhok at the SkyPad to look back at his pole lap of the Canadian GP
Russell told Sky Sports F1: “I definitely wanted to take the summer to really think about my future, because it’s obviously important for everybody when you’re discussing the coming years.
“The team and Toto were very open to discussing or finding a solution during the break, but I just wanted to take that time.
“There are pros and cons in terms of duration. The truth is, I just want to win, and I want to win with Mercedes. If I could choose, that is what I would choose to do.
In the Hungarian Grand Prix cool-down room, Mercedes’ George Russell offers ‘advice’ to the McLaren pair which would have resulted in his victory!
“But, of course, things have to be right, things have to be aligned – there’s a lot more to our job than just driving on a Sunday afternoon.
“It’s positively moving in the right direction but there’s no time pressure from my side, there’s no major time pressure from the team’s side, so I just want to ensure it’s done right, and not done quickly.”
Sky Sports F1’s Dutch GP schedule
Friday August 29
2.45pm: Dutch Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 3pm)*
4.25pm: F1 Academy Practice 2
5.20pm: The F1 Show
Saturday August 30
9.20am: F1 Academy Qualifying
10.05am: Dutch Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 10:30am)*
1pm: Dutch Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
2pm: DUTCH GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
4pm: F1 Academy Race 1
Sunday August 31
9.35am: F1 Academy Race 2
10.50am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Dutch GP build-up
2pm: The DUTCH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Dutch GP reaction
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 returns after the summer break with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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