George Russell says he has “no hard feelings” about hypothesis linking Max Verstappen with Mercedes and is in “no rush” along with his personal contract negotiations to remain on the group.
Neither Russell nor team-mate Kimi Antonelli has been confirmed to retain a Mercedes seat for 2026, and earlier this 12 months there was hypothesis Verstappen might make a shock change to Mercedes following Crimson Bull’s disappointing begin to the season.
Since then, Crimson Bull have gotten nearer to McLaren and Verstappen added to his win in Suzuka with victory in Imola, however he stays is third within the Drivers’ Championship, 43 factors behind chief Oscar Piastri.
Final 12 months, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff made a public try and signal Verstappen however informed Sky Sports activities F1 three months in the past in March {that a} shock transfer for the reigning world champion was “not on the radar”.
Sky Sports activities Information understands Verstappen has a clause in his contract that may permit him to depart Crimson Bull after this season, within the unlikely state of affairs he isn’t within the high 4 of the Drivers’ Championship at the beginning of the F1 summer time break, following the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3.
Verstappen is at present 41 factors forward of fifth-placed Charles Leclerc, with Russell fourth within the standings.
“There haven’t been any hard feelings with any of the talks that have been going around, especially around Max,” mentioned Russell following his triumph on the Canadian Grand Prix.
“Like I said numerous times, why wouldn’t teams be interested in Max? If every driver had no contracts for next year, Max would be No 1 for every single team. And that’s understandable.
“However finally, there are two seats for each race group. I knew if I proceed to carry out as I am doing, my place wouldn’t be below risk in any way. So, I really feel in a great place.”
Russell: I am not speaking to another F1 groups
On Monday, Autosport reported Russell has been focused by Aston Martin to steer their revival from 2026, regardless of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll having contracts for subsequent season.
Talking earlier than that report emerged, Russell insists he sees his future being at Mercedes.
“I’m not talking with anybody else and any teams who have shown interest,” he mentioned.
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Mercedes’ George Russell and Kimi Antonelli mirror on their first and third place finishes respectively in Canada
“I have been quite open to say my intentions are to stay with Mercedes. That’s always been clear. And I am loyal to Mercedes. They gave me this chance to get into Formula 1.”
Russell added: “We’re in no rush to do contract negotiations. We want to win together, especially Kimi and I being team-mates now.
“We’re getting a consequence like Canada, each junior drivers from Mercedes. We’re each doing the job when it comes to efficiency. Why would you need to change one thing that is working?”
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George Russell takes a dig at Max Verstappen after beating him to take pole in Montreal
Wolff: Russell contract ‘all on plan’
Russell joined Mercedes from Williams in 2022 and has asserted himself because the group’s lead driver following the departure of Lewis Hamilton on the finish of final 12 months.
The 27-year-old scored simply two fewer factors than Hamilton over their three campaigns as team-mates and unquestionably had the higher hand over the seven-time world champion of their final season.
He has continued that robust type this 12 months with 4 podiums, plus Mercedes’ first victory of 2025 on the Canadian Grand Prix.
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Mercedes’ George Russell and Kimi Antonelli mirror on their first and third place finishes respectively in Canada
“He’s been so long with us,” mentioned Mercedes group principal Wolff.
“He’s growing and the steps he’s made from that young driver in Williams, then coming to Mercedes at a difficult time, being on par with Lewis, and since Lewis left, being clearly the senior driver in the team, and it comes natural.
“It isn’t like there’s some politics. He is simply taken the place that he deserves and deserves. The atmosphere within the group is nice, and we have agreed on some sort of timeline after we need to settle this stuff.
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Toto Wolff felt George Russell’s pole in Canada as top-of-the-line for Mercedes after pipping Max Verstappen at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
“With triple-headers getting out of the way, then one race after the other in June and July, but we’re going to get there.
“He is been a Mercedes junior since he was 2016. It is not depending on whether or not he wins a race or performs as a result of we all know he can.”
Asked by Sky Sports News at the premiere of the F1 movie about a new contract for Russell, Wolff concluded: “[It is] all on plan”.
Brundle on Russell’s ‘perfect’ Canada performance and his future
Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle:
“Canada was the proper efficiency from George. Pole place, quickest lap, race win – fairly untroubled.
“When George gets up front like that, you don’t wonder how he’s going to cope with the pressure. You don’t even think about it.
“You understand he is not going to grab his brakes or make a foolish mistake. He is on it and he is obtained the pace, the consistency, the self-confidence, and it got here via once more in Canada.
“We saw last year he pretty much got the upper hand on Lewis. He’s flourished as team leader. He’s out of the shadow of Lewis, who he still refers to as ‘the GOAT’, which I respect, and says, ‘I learned from Lewis’.”
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Martin Brundle appears to be like again at a few of Formulation 1’s biggest ‘mavericks’
Brundle on why Mercedes are but to agree a brand new contract with Russell:
“Former McLaren boss Ron Dennis used to say, ‘what’s the point in making a decision early if you’ve got the upper hand on a contractual position?’ It’s a bit like landing with a lot of runway behind you. It’s no good to you.
“I believe they suppose it is pushing George on. Possibly they suppose, ‘George goes properly on this atmosphere, let’s not waste the runway’.”
Next up for the 2025 Formula 1 season is a return to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix, which is live on Sky Sports F1 from June 27-29. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.
