George Russell could be on the verge of signing a new deal at Mercedes. Despite an impressive 2025 campaign so far, he’s now into the back half of the season without anything official in place.
But it was reported on Friday that Mercedes are set to confirm extensions for both Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli. The likelihood of Max Verstappen joining them next year seems to be fading even more.
The move has always looked unlikely, and there have even been hints that Verstappen’s discussions with Mercedes might be focused on 2027 instead.
So even if Russell does sign a new deal, that uncertainty isn’t going away. The 27-year-old has four Grand Prix wins to his name and 20 podium finishes so far.
Mercedes insider says George Russell could lose his seat if Kimi Antonelli outperforms him
According to a report from De Limburger, sources within Mercedes have said that an announcement is close. Russell is expected to agree a multi-year deal rather than just a one-year extension.
However, that doesn’t mean his place at Mercedes is completely secure. If Red Bull struggles after the 2026 regulation changes, Toto Wolff is ready to go all-in on Verstappen. It could be what finally pushes the world champion to make the move.
Even with a contract in place, Wolff might still have the flexibility to let Russell go. The team boss will make sure there’s a performance clause included in the agreement, giving him options if things don’t go as planned.
If Antonelli gets the better of him, Russell’s position becomes vulnerable. “He can forget about staying” if the younger driver comes out on top.
The scenario seems unlikely at the moment given the 84-point gap between them, but there are examples of young drivers closing big gaps quickly. Oscar Piastri made huge strides in his second season and became a real challenger to Lando Norris despite initially trailing by 112 points.
Toto Wolff thinks Antonelli has that same kind of potential and believes he could follow a similar path to Piastri. Mercedes see their young driver as someone who can compete for titles in future years.
George Russell and Max Verstappen could form a superteam – here’s why Mercedes won’t pair them
It’s reasonable to wonder why Wolff isn’t interested in bringing Verstappen in to partner Russell. While Antonelli is seen as the bigger long-term prospect, right now, Russell is one of the best drivers on the grid.
Teaming Verstappen with someone who has a proven record against Lewis Hamilton would make for an impressive lineup. But there are two key reasons why Mercedes aren’t pursuing that option.
The first issue is Antonelli’s development. Wolff doesn’t want to risk stalling his progress by sending him out on loan, especially since it could come at a high cost. The second is the relationship between Verstappen and Russell, which hasn’t always been smooth.
Should he become available, it wouldn’t take long for other teams to show interest in signing him up.
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