George Russell has disclosed that he turned down an opportunity to discuss his contract with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff during the summer break, opting to postpone negotiations until after the break. The British driver, whose current deal expires at the end of the 2025 season, described talks as moving 'positively in the right direction'.
Both Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli are out of contract after 2025, but with Max Verstappen no longer linked to a move from Red Bull, their positions appear more secure. Russell, a four-time Grand Prix winner, now holds negotiating leverage, allowing for a more relaxed pace in discussions.
Speaking to select media including Express Sport, Russell said: 'Naturally, we wanted to take the summer off to relax and reset, but [we're] positively moving in the right direction. There is no time pressure from either side, so we're ensuring it's done properly.' He added that priorities include race weekends, future development, and sponsorship days, which can delay contract resolution.
Russell confirmed that plans are in place to renegotiate his standing within the Mercedes Formula One programme. He explained his decision to decline Wolff's offer for summer talks: 'I wanted to take the time off. Toto and the team were very willing to work through the summer break, but those two weeks are precious.' He expects a resolution in 'a number of weeks' but stressed there is no rush.
