Mercedes should be worried about George Russell’s comments on working with Adrian Newey as Aston Martin rumours heat up

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George Russell is still waiting for Mercedes to decide whether he’ll be one of their two Formula 1 drivers for the 2026 season.

Many fans will look at what George Russell has achieved this year and wonder what more he could have done to convince team principal Toto Wolff that he’s the right man to lead Mercedes into the next era of Formula 1.

Russell has secured four podium finishes in 2025 and more than doubled Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s points tally.

The Italian rookie has achieved Mercedes’ only pole position this season in the Sprint Race at Miami, but by and large, Russell has been Wolff’s most important driver.

However, Russell’s contract expires at the end of the season and Mercedes haven’t confirmed a new deal for the Brit yet.

Christian Horner has held informal chats with Russell, but another option has emerged for the three-time race winner.

Aston Martin have been linked with Russell as they consider their strongest driver line-up for 2026.

Chairman Lawrence Stroll is trying to build the strongest team possible and that involves bringing in the likes of Adrian Newey.

Mercedes were one of the teams interested in signing Newey when he looked set to become a free agent and while they missed out to Aston Martin, Russell made some very interesting comments about working with the genius designer.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height

George Russell’s previous comments on Adrian Newey might worry Mercedes

Russell was asked in a press conference last season, via RacingNews365, if there was space within Mercedes for Newey when he decided he would leave Red Bull, he said: “I mean, of course.

“You want to have the best engineers, the best drivers, the best mechanics, you want to have the best individuals [as] part of your team.

“But I think the team we have here, over the course of the last 12 years, the group of engineers that sit in the room next door are still the most successful engineers that Formula 1 has seen in the last 12 [or] 13 years.”

Speaking about Mercedes’ lack of success last year compared to the glory days of Hamilton and Nico Rosberg winning championships, Russell continued: “Now we’re going through a period where we’re not achieving the success that the team once achieved a few years ago.

“But I have every faith in everybody, the people that won the championships, the new engineers and individuals who are part of this journey, to bring Mercedes back to the top.”

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin managing technical partner Adrian Newey

Aston Martin might be considering Lance Stroll’s F1 future amid George Russell and Max Verstappen interest

It should be said that Aston Martin currently have two drivers signed up for the 2026 F1 season.

Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are already contracted for next year although they’re not having the best campaign currently.

Alonso scored his first points of the season in Spain, but Stroll was absent from the race due to a wrist injury.

There are now suggestions Aston Martin might move Stroll on at the end of 2025 citing his injury as the reason why.

Aston Martin have wanted to sign Max Verstappen for some time but Mercedes are also keen on the four-time world champion.

This is where Russell comes into the equation and while he may be interested in working with Newey, he would be taking a big gamble on abandoning Mercedes’ project now.

However, if Wolff convinces Verstappen to join the Silver Arrows, then Russell might finally get his chance to work with Newey next year.