Mercedes shift position on George Russell’s new £30m-a-year contract

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George Russell has resumed contract discussions with Mercedes after opting to pause talks during the summer break.

The 27-year-old is one of six drivers whose future beyond the 2025 season remains up in the air. Russell chose to put contract talks on hold over the summer, a break that wrapped up ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix.

READ MORE: Red Bull’s 2026 F1 plans reportedly set to cost 15-time DNF driver his seat

Mercedes are working through contract situations with both drivers, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli only secured a one-year deal for his first season replacing Lewis Hamilton. Yuki Tsunoda, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, and Franco Colapinto are also among those whose contracts expire at the end of this year.

Russell has stepped into a leadership role for Mercedes since Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. He gave them their only win so far this season at the Canadian Grand Prix and picked up his fourth career win from his sixth pole position.

Mercedes are currently discussing a contract extension with George Russell through 2027

Russell has contributed 172 of Mercedes’ 236 points this season, putting him third in the drivers’ standings ahead of the Dutch GP. But Wolff had initially been considering only a one-year extension for Russell, hoping to keep space open for Max Verstappen.

But Verstappen has since confirmed his commitment to Red Bull through 2026, unable to trigger any exit clauses. That decision has given Russell more leverage in his ongoing talks with Mercedes.

Sky Sports reports that discussions between Mercedes and Russell are now progressing well, with both sides moving closer to a multi-year deal. The new agreement would keep Russell at Brackley until at least the end of the 2027 season.

The Daily Mail adds that Wolff is offering Russell a contract worth £30m per year. His current deal pays £12m annually, agreed in August 2023 after he had secured one win from his first 35 races with the team.

George Russell pleased with progress in Mercedes contract talks

Russell is set to make his 83rd start for Mercedes at this weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix, taking his total to 143 F1 races when you include his three seasons with Williams. The Brit joined Mercedes in 2022, stepping in for Valtteri Bottas, and has since claimed all four of his career victories.

Despite leading the team to their only win of the 2025 season so far in Canada, Wolff’s pursuit of Verstappen put Russell’s contract situation on hold. But it was not until after Verstappen committed to staying at Red Bull that talks with Russell resumed.

Even so, Russell has delivered six of their seven podiums this year and remains their most consistent performer. That reliability has helped strengthen his position now that discussions have picked up again.

Now that Verstappen is no longer an option, Mercedes have refocused on securing Russell’s future. The academy graduate believes talks are progressing well since resuming after the summer break and appears confident a longer-term deal will be finalised soon.