Nico Rosberg is confident that George Russell will soon finalize a fresh contract with Mercedes, despite Toto Wolff’s challenging negotiation tactics. Speculation has surrounded Russell’s future with the Brackley squad as his current deal, inked in 2023, is set to expire at the close of the 2025 F1 season.
Approaching the deadline with only a few months left, Russell is yet to secure a new agreement. The 27-year-old previously hinted that his contract discussions were delayed due to Mercedes engaging with Max Verstappen, hinting at Wolff’s attempts to sway the four-time world champion from Red Bull.
However, Russell received encouragement from Verstappen’s decision to remain with Red Bull until the end of 2026 following Christian Horner’s departure as team principal. Wolff indicated that a deal for Russell could be settled before the summer break post the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend.
Recent reports suggest that Russell is on the brink of finalizing a multi-year contract with Mercedes, potentially extending until the conclusion of the 2027 season, likely partnering with Kimi Antonelli for the foreseeable future.
Former Mercedes racer Rosberg, now a Sky Sports F1 pundit, shares the view that Russell will secure the deal soon. Rosberg also shared his own experience with Wolff’s tough negotiation style during his contract talks with Mercedes.
While Wolff has affirmed his commitment to both Russell and Antonelli for the 2026 season, a potential long-term deal for Russell keeps alive the prospect of him teaming up with Verstappen in the future, despite their past conflicts on and off the track.
Mercedes is now content with Russell as their lead driver, impressed by his consistent and successful F1 season this year. Russell’s achievements include winning the Canadian Grand Prix and outscoring Antonelli 157 to 63 points, with four additional podium finishes.
When questioned by Sky Sports F1 about the contract delay impacting Russell’s performance, Wolff stated that Russell’s maturity and stability as a driver are unaffected. Wolff expressed optimism that the contract will be settled soon.
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