George Russell says he doesn’t feel pressure to coordinate a new contract with Mercedes, because he estimates that it “will take a few weeks before something really happens”.
Mercedes still has to confirm that Russell and Kimi Antonelli stay in their seats before 2026, although both are generally expected to do this. There was uncertainty during exploratory discussions with Max Verstappen earlier this year, and despite the fact that it was reduced after the Dutchman committed himself to stay with Red Bull, Russell says that an agreement has still not been fully reached.
“Of course we wanted to take the summer to relax and reset, but it is positive in the right direction,” said Russell. “But I think because there is no time pressure on the side of the team and no time pressure on our part, we just make sure it is done well.
“Of course you are juggling with priorities. It is not like the world stops to sort a contract. We have to worry about racing weekends, we concentrate on future development, already looking ahead to next year, sponsor days … So things sometimes take longer than you would expect, but as I said, go positively in the right direction.
“Absolutely the summer vacation was a very good time for me to think about my whole situation, what I want for my future, not only on the right track, but everything that happens outside the right track – there is much more to our role than just the cars on a Sunday afternoon. Those conversations were really picked up this week, not really through the break, because that was more my decision.
“I wanted to take the free time. Toto [Wolff, team principal] And the team was very willing to go through the summer vacation to come to a resolution, but I just wanted to take that time because they are pretty expensive for all of us for two weeks. And it is, as I said, moving in a positive direction.
“So I think we’ll get closer to the same page with a few things and hopefully in the arrival … Realistically we may talk a few weeks before something really happens. But there is no big rush and I don’t really want to put a timeline on it. If it will happen, it will happen next week, a month, two months, three months, three months, it will be.”
Russell says that there are no important items that are still able to negotiate, with the duration of Deal, not one of the obstacles to be overcome.
“No, not at all, to be honest. I think there are advantages and disadvantages to be in the long term in the long term,” he said. “I think this season has been proven more than ever for me, in the end it always comes down to performance. The number mentioned in the contract is ultimately just a song. But I clearly think of what I want.
“The truth is that I want to win with Mercedes, I want to win a world championship and that is my number one goal. I hope to be here with the team, but of course I will be 28 next year – I still feel quite young, but at some point I have to make sure that everything is good and we all go in the right direction. So I hope it can be with Mercedes here.”
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