Anonymous F1 sources reveal whether George Russell’s new Mercedes deal gives him true job ‘security’

Follow us on Google Discover

George Russell is staying at Mercedes – that much has been clear for several weeks now, even if it hasn’t been officially announced. But the terms of his impending extension will be crucial.

Toto Wolff audaciously tried to sign Max Verstappen from Red Bull for 2026. With Verstappen unable to activate a performance-based exit clause in his deal, he confirmed shortly before the summer break that he wouldn’t be leaving.

But he’s only paused the rumours, rather than ending them for good. There are suggestions that Verstappen will be able to leave Red Bull for 2027 if he isn’t satisfied with their performance under the new regulations.

Thus, Wolff’s dream of signing the four-time world champion remains alive. And that theoretically puts Russell and Kimi Antonelli at a lasting risk.

Mercedes set to hand George Russell a multi-year contract amid Max Verstappen interest

Anonymous sources have now revealed to The Athletic that a ‘multi-year deal is on the table’ for Russell. He hasn’t yet signed it, because he’s still studying the ‘minutiae’.

Russell wants to make fewer commercial appearances, which is one area where negotiations are ongoing. Crucially, Mercedes have already agreed to give the Briton a contract that reflects his ‘experience and success’.

While links to Verstappen will ‘inevitably reignite’ if Mercedes and Red Bull embark on opposite trajectories, Russell now has job ‘security’. He’s insulated in the event that the Dutchman’s camp ‘get serious’ about the move.

• READ MORE: Nico Rosberg sees George Russell giving Toto Wolff a taste of his ‘own medicine’ in Mercedes talks

It follows that Antonelli is the driver at risk. An error-strewn debut season has left the Italian eighth in the standings with just over a third of his teammate’s points.

It remains to be seen whether Antonelli signs for 2026 only or whether his deal contains options for future seasons. It seems unlikely that Wolff would lock both drivers into guaranteed multi-year contracts.

Toto Wolff has now learned from the mistake he made with Valtteri Bottas

As The Athletic point out, Russell’s new deal will give Mercedes the ‘stability’ they have lacked this season. The Silver Arrows have been rather uncomfortably at the centre of the F1 driver market.

Wolff and Mercedes learned during the Valtteri Bottas years that ‘going year-to-year on contracts’ creates unhelpful ‘external noise’. Bottas partnered Lewis Hamilton for five seasons before Russell replaced him.

As he’s made clear both publicly and privately, Wolff has no interest in loaning out Antonelli. Some feel he should have tried to give the 18-year-old his F1 debut at a customer team, but he remains committed to his rough diamond for now.