George Russell is now ‘starting’ to have one serious doubt about Toto Wolff as Mercedes contract saga continues

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George Russell may soon become a pillar of the 2025 F1 driver market with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff still yet to offer the Briton a new contract, with his deal due to expire.

The 27-year-old is a Mercedes man as Russell joined their driver academy back in 2017 after his pitch impressed Wolff. Winning the 2017 GP3 and 2018 F2 titles as a rookie, before filling three years in F1 with Williams, then saw Russell replace Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes in 2022.

Now, Wolff is also seeing Russell step up to be the Silver Arrows’ team leader following Lewis Hamilton defecting to Ferrari in the 2025 F1 season. The Briton has scored 136 of the team’s 199 points sat beside rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli for second in the constructors’ standings.

Russell has also taken five of the Brackley bunch’s six podium finishes so far this term prior to this weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. The King’s Lynn native also heads to the Red Bull Ring after Russell won the 2025 Canadian GP from pole position for Mercedes’ first win this term.

George Russell is ‘starting to wonder’ if Toto Wolff will give him a new Mercedes contract

Yet despite Russell showing he can be Mercedes’ team leader and sitting fourth in the 2025 F1 drivers’ championship, Wolff is still to sign off on a fresh deal. He is currently due to be a free agent at the end of this season when Russell’s £12m a year Mercedes contract expires.

And according to Blick, Russell is even ‘starting to wonder’ if Wolff will give him a fresh deal or try to tempt Max Verstappen to break out of his contract with Red Bull. Wolff has always wanted to sign the Dutchman, who has release clauses which can free him after this season.

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Verstappen can leave Red Bull after the 2025 F1 season if he sits outside of the top three in the drivers’ standings during the summer break. There are even fears in Milton Keynes now that the 27-year-old wants to leave, as Verstappen is considering joining Mercedes for 2026.

Wolff even sought to protect his relationship with Verstappen after his recent incidents with Russell. The Mercedes team principal pointed his finger firmly at Red Bull when Verstappen drove into Russell in the Spanish GP and when Red Bull protested Russell’s Canadian GP win.

Toto Wolff wants Mercedes to sign Max Verstappen and is interested in Charles Leclerc

Russell has attracted interest from other F1 teams with Mercedes still yet to give him a new contract amid suggestions that Wolff is on the charm offensive to sign Verstappen. Antonelli is also out of contract after 2025, but he is expected to be kept on over Russell if one leaves.

Christian Horner has held informal talks with Russell about a switch to Red Bull as a back-up in case Verstappen were to go. Yet they are not alone, as Aston Martin have expressed their interest in signing Russell given Wolff has not yet moved to finalise his expected new terms.

It was suggested earlier this season that Russell will sign a new £46m two-year contract for Mercedes, having proven that he can fill Hamilton’s place in Brackley. But the Briton’s pen is yet to touch paper, with Wolff interested in Mercedes signing Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, too.