At the end of his contract, George Russell has "no concerns" about his extension

If the formidable McLaren seem to have a notable advantage over the competition, one driver is holding out as best he can behind them: George Russell is shining at the start of the season, picking up the scraps behind the Woking single-seaters. The Briton has taken two podium finishes interspersed with a fourth place in the Shanghai Sprint, proof of clockwork consistency.

"The first two races were excellent, two podiums, and we couldn't have hoped for much better. I also think we have to stay realistic, tempers the number 63 arriving at Suzuka (Japan), for the third meeting of the year. We're only two races into a long season. I don't think that Ferrari and maybe Red Bull have still maximized their potential, so we shouldn't get carried away thinking that it will be possible every weekend. But we know that if we do a good job at our level, we will be in the running."

For his fourth season at Mercedes, George Russell inherited the leadership cap, left vacant by Lewis Hamilton, left for Ferrari. The former driver Williams is now responsible for leading the team and overseeing the development of his young teammate, Andrea Kimi Antonelli (18 years old). The Briton's first weeks in this new role are going brilliantly, thanks also to a car that has regained its performance after an up-and-down 2024 season.

"We know that in qualifying we've always been pretty solid, but it was quite encouraging in China to see that our race pace was also pretty good., George Russell is satisfied. We were the second-fastest team in China, and there are a lot of positives to take away. Now we go to Japan, which was probably one of our worst races last year (Russell 7th, Hamilton 9th, Editor's note). So it will be a good test to see if we have really improved compared to XNUMX months ago."

George Russell welcomes Toto Wolff's support 

The King's Lynn native certainly continued his progression last year, winning two races (Austria and Las Vegas, plus one in Belgium before being disqualified after the finish) and securing four pole positions. In 204, he confirmed the great impressions he left both at Williams and during his first years at Mercedes, notably crushing Lewis Hamilton in qualifying, no less! Enough to delight his boss Toto wolff.

“I know he’s always supported me, honestly. People like to see things publicly, but I don’t read what’s said in the press or on social media. So for me, I only learned about it this morning [that Toto Wolff had been very complimentary in the media after the Chinese GP] when someone told me. Of course, it’s nice to hear, but I know he’s always supported me and believes in me. What matters most is what happens internally rather than what’s shown to the outside world. I know I have the support of the whole team. We’re all in the same boat and fighting for the same common goal.”

Despite his boss's fine words and his brilliant performances, George Russell may be living his last year at Mercedes: for the moment, the Briton does not have a contract for 2026. While his level of performance alone should ensure his future, that would exclude a significant factor from the equation: what will Max Verstappen At the end of the year? Rumors have been multiplying in recent months surrounding a possible departure of the four-time world champion from Red Bull. One team would then be in a prime position to welcome him: Mercedes. Toto Wolff has been openly flirting with the Dutchman for several months and aims to recruit him, which would inevitably lead to the departure of Kimi Antonelli or George Russell.

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The Verstappen threat?

The first is a rough diamond with a great future and just waiting to be polished, while the second is one of the best drivers on the grid: parting with one of the two will in any case be a difficult choice, but it seems more plausible that Toto Wolff will sacrifice George Russell after all the financial efforts made to prepare Kimi Antonelli for the Formula 1.

While the spectre of Max Verstappen may be hovering over his head, George Russell is dismissing it with a wave of his hand: the 27-year-old driver is not worried about his future and insists that extending his contract is not the priority at the moment.

“For me, there’s absolutely no stress about a contract. Ultimately, contracts exist in Formula 1, but things move very quickly. I believe in myself, you have to perform, it’s as simple as that. And when it comes to contract discussions, I think in the past, with Toto, it’s never taken more than 24 hours to have the conversation, then it goes to the lawyers and we put something in place. So there's no rush on my part, no worries, no pressure. I'm enjoying where I am in the sport right now, enjoying my performances and just enjoying racing, and that's the number one priority right now."

If George Russell continues his early season form, the choice will become even more difficult for Toto Wolff.

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