Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff says George Russell holds good playing cards as talks progress over a contract extension.
Russell is out of contract on the finish of the season and has confronted a stage of uncertainty attributable to Mercedes’ curiosity in Max Verstappen this 12 months, admitting ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix that the past six months had “not been the most assuring.” With Verstappen subsequently committing to Red Bull for 2026, talks over a brand new deal for Russell are understood to be progressing in a optimistic path, and Wolff says the 27-year-old’s performances put him in a robust place.
“George has all the time had good playing cards as a result of he delivered since 2018,” Wolff mentioned. “There wasn’t a season he wasn’t there and nothing modified that in our pondering for subsequent 12 months. Simply since you do not speak exterior doesn’t suggest that issues are progressing in a manner they shouldn’t internally.
“In relation to contract, let’s have a look at. We’ll come out and say what sort of time period we now have put ahead, however undoubtedly his standing within the group is robust. He has proven it [in Hungary] once more and there is not any motive [not] to plan with George in the long run.”
With teammate Kimi Antonelli additionally but to have his future confirmed, Wolff stopped wanting placing a timeline on any bulletins.
“Properly, if it was attention-grabbing information, I should not be responding to your query! I do not know,” he mentioned. “We’ll select a superb second, like some form of funky grand prix the place there’s plenty of followers and we’ll come out with that.”
Antonelli scored his first level of the European season in Hungary after ending tenth, and Wolff says reverting to an older suspension answer helps the rookie’s confidence.
“The automobile usually is giving extra suggestions to him,” he mentioned. “He mentioned that the weekend was a metamorphosis from the primary session. Qualifying went flawed, however that occurs to a younger driver.
“Hanging him on the market for tire survival [in the race] was one other a part of the event that he must undergo. He scored some extent, he defended towards [Isack] Hadjar behind and I am glad with that. Hopefully we’ll get sturdy within the second half of the 12 months. So, he’s on course.”
