Why Russell won’t re-sign for Mercedes in F1 summer break

George Russell has insisted he will not sign his new Mercedes Formula 1 contract over the current summer break as the Briton is keen not to rush proceedings.

The 27-year-old’s deal expires at the end of the 2025 season and has been a major talking point in recent weeks as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was touted for a move to Mercedes.

But ahead of last weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen confirmed he was not leaving Red Bull, meaning it is all but certain that Russell and his team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, whose contract also expires this year, will remain with Mercedes.

Contract signings often occur during the annual summer break, but Russell revealed he expected nothing to happen before F1 returns for the Dutch Grand Prix on 29-31 August.

“I’ve got nothing to be worried about,” Russell told Sky Sports F1 on Sunday. “And nothing’s going to happen over summer because, honestly, I just want to have a rest and recharge and come back stronger for the second half of the year.

“But there’s no time pressure either way now. So it’ll happen when it will happen.”

Russell, a long-time Mercedes junior, joined the Silver Arrows in 2022 after spending his first three F1 campaigns on loan at Williams.

He has won four grands prix for Mercedes but never been in an F1 title fight, despite the squad winning eight consecutive constructors’ titles before he joined.

So, with the 2026 pecking order unknown given the incoming regulation changes, Russell wants to ensure the conditions of his next contract are right – but stated “it’s a when, not if” he will sign.

“I’m 27 now, I’ve been with the team for four years,” he added. “Next year would be my fifth. We want to build the relationship together, but it’s got to be right and I don’t want to rush it.

“I’ve been waiting 12 months. I’m not going to just rush it in the course of two weeks. So we’ll sit down when the time is right.”

The contract saga has come amid a very strong season for Russell, who is fourth in the championship, having won in Canada, and has been a standout driver for many.

That is why his boss Toto Wolff holds Russell in the highest regard, claiming “George has always had good cards” when it comes to a contract extension.

George Russell, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

“He’s delivered since 2018 [his F2 title-winning year], there wasn’t a season he wasn’t there,” added Wolff post-race in Hungary, where Russell finished third.

“Nothing changed that in our thinking for next year, so just because you don’t talk [externally] doesn’t mean that things aren’t progressing in a way they should internally.

“When it comes to the contract, let’s see. We will come out and see what kind of terms we have put forward, but definitely his standing in the team is strong. He has shown it again today.”

Additional reporting by Christian Nimmervoll