Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff claimed that the team is "super near" finalising a contract with George Russell for the 2026 Formula 1 season. This comes ahead of the Briton securing pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix.
While the British driver has put in impressive performances so far this season, which have resulted in him sitting fourth in the drivers' standings with 212 points, he is yet to secure a contract with the Brackley outfit beyond the end of the current year.
After talks with four-time champion Max Verstappen ended earlier in the year, Wolff confirmed that the focus of the team was to retain Russell and his rookie team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli for next year.
"Well, we are like super near. Something like that," Wolff explained to Sky Sports F1 when asked for an update on the contract in Singapore.
Russell is in a unique position in the negotiations, as Mercedes also acts as his management.
"I mean, from my whole career until last year, the team have supported me so much and given me such amazing opportunities. Our goals have been aligned and what has been in the best interest of the team has also been in the best interest of me," Russell explained to the media ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
"Now, of course, these last six months have been a very unique situation where I don't have huge power in that sort of agreement and maybe the interests were not aligned for some time, which has, of course, put me at risk for these last six months, but then it was my job to perform and reduce that risk.
"I don't know, to be honest. I don't wish for it to come to anything like that [to take his career into his own hands]. I still trust Toto and I still trust in the team that they will always support me as long as I'm performing. So that's what I need to focus on. But of course, for both Kimi and I, these past months have not been the most assuring for our future and that's just been a bit conflicting."
Amid McLaren's dominance during 2025 to date, Russell secured the victory in the Canadian Grand Prix and has celebrated on the podium seven times.
Photos from Singapore GP - Practice & Qualifying
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Singapore GP - Saturday, in photos
Read and post comments