Nico Rosberg is optimistic about George Russell securing a new contract with Mercedes soon, despite Toto Wolff’s challenging negotiation tactics. Speculation has surrounded Russell’s future with the Brackley team since his current contract, signed in 2023, is set to expire at the end of the 2025 F1 season.
As the deadline approaches, Russell has not yet finalized a new contract with Mercedes. Previous indications suggested negotiations were delayed due to Mercedes potentially pursuing Max Verstappen, with Wolff attempting to entice the four-time world champion from Red Bull.
However, Verstappen’s decision to remain with Red Bull until 2026, following Christian Horner’s departure as team principal, has boosted Russell’s prospects. Wolff hinted that a new deal for Russell could be completed after the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.
Recent reports suggest that Russell is on the brink of securing a multi-year contract with Mercedes, potentially extending until the end of the 2027 season. This deal could pair him with young talent Kimi Antonelli for the foreseeable future.
Former Mercedes driver Rosberg, now a Sky Sports F1 pundit, concurs with this view. He shared his own challenging experience negotiating with Wolff for a contract extension during his racing career.
While Wolff has expressed commitment to Russell and Antonelli for the 2026 season, a long-term agreement with Russell opens up the possibility of him partnering with Verstappen in the future, despite their past conflicts.
Mercedes is currently satisfied with Russell’s performance as their primary driver, given his strong results in the current F1 season. Russell’s achievements include winning the Canadian Grand Prix and outscoring Antonelli 157 to 63 points, with four additional podium finishes.
Wolff dismissed suggestions that the contract delay is affecting Russell’s performance, emphasizing the driver’s maturity and stability. He remains optimistic about finalizing the contract soon for Russell to have peace of mind over the summer break.
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