There have been plenty of eyes focused on the driver situation developing at Mercedes, as pressure surrounds the future of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for next season.
Under the guidance of Toto Wolff, the Brackley-based team have been rebuilding after a decade of relative dominance, hopeful of reaching the top once again.
With Lewis Hamilton moving on to Ferrari this season, plenty of focus has been placed on the performance of George Russell as the main driver, alongside the introduction of Kimi Antonelli.
Both face an uncertain future in their seat, though, as they have contracts expiring in 2025, while rumours circulate about potential replacements.
Max Verstappen is wanted by Mercedes in a possible switch from Red Bull, but there appears to be another twist in the tale.
George Russell set to sign new Mercedes contract as Max Verstappen’s exit clause fades
There has been some pressure growing on the situation surrounding Mercedes and their driver lineup beyond this season.
While links with Max Verstappen continue to rumble in the background, it seems to be a deal that is now highly unlikely.
Verstappen has an exit clause in his Red Bull contract that allowed him to move during the summer break if he wasn’t in the top three of the driver’s championship.
However, after his Belgian Grand Prix performance, the Dutchman is guaranteed to be in those places and won’t have an exit clause available.
With that in mind, Mercedes have already moved on to securing the future of George Russell and they have an offer in place.
According to the Daily Mail, Russell is set to sign a new multi-season contract that is worth £30 million a year.
It’s claimed that negotiations have ramped up in recent weeks, with an agreement close between all parties involved.
With some finer details still to be decided upon, there is hope that a deal can be made official before the summer break starts next week.
George Russell’s racing record with Mercedes
George Russell is now in his fourth season at Mercedes, where he has shown plenty of quality with the team.
With four wins and 19 podiums to his name in that time, the British star has certainly made an impression.
| Race starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | DNFs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 4 | 19 | 7 | 7 |
While he has a few victories and podiums, he will be looking to achieve much more over the length of a new contract at Mercedes.
A competitive car that can help him win the driver’s championship, along with a win in the constructor’s, would go a long way to helping him achieve his dreams.
It remains to be seen whether the 2026 package can offer that, but it’s clear that Russell is committed to trying with the team for a few years after.