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

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George Russell’s Mercedes contract still hasn’t been announced. It’s considered a formality, but there’s now only a third of the season remaining.

Both parties have consistently played down the urgency of the situation all season, and Toto Wolff has indicated that Russell’s extension is a matter of time. Very few, though, expected it to still be a talking point at the end of the European season.

It’s clear that there are still some disagreements that need to be resolved before Mercedes can tie down the four-time Grand Prix winner. Teammate Kimi Antonelli will also be staying for 2026.

Mercedes were linked with Max Verstappen earlier in the season, which led to suggestions that Russell could be under threat. But the four-time world champion has committed to staying at Red Bull.

Nico Rosberg commends how unhappy George Russell is negotiating

Speaking on Sky Sports’ ‘F1 Show’ podcast, Nico Rosberg reiterated that Wolff is a ‘horrible’ negotiating partner. He tactically ‘disappears’ when he receives a counteroffer.

Rosberg, who drove for Mercedes between 2010 and his 2016 retirement, suspects that Russell has two main gripes. The first is likely related to salary.

It’s previously been reported that Mercedes don’t want to match Lando Norris’ salary even though Russell is of a similar stature.

• READ MORE: 2025 F1 driver contract lengths and wages including Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari salary

There have also been suggestions that Russell wants reduced sponsorship commitments under his new deal. Rosberg says these can take up 60 days a year for some drivers.

“It’s horrible to negotiate with Toto,” he said. “He just disappears off planet Earth when you’re trying to get better terms. I suffered a lot!

“Now, it’s George doing the reverse to Toto, he’s fighting Toto with his own medicine. George is apparently not happy with a couple of terms in his contract.

“George is a Mercedes junior, so he won’t be on a Lando Norris-level salary, by far and away not. George feels that Lando is equal to him. George can drive at Lando’s level and can win races and championships if he has the car. Of course, he will feel that’s not quite fair that he’s so far away from Lando’s salary.

“Then there are also things like sponsor days. Nowadays, these teams have so many sponsors paying so much money, and the only way for a team to give back to a sponsor is, of course, logo space and driver time.

“They want their customers to be able to meet George Russell, and so they’re using the drivers so much. The number can go up to 60 days!

George Russell has the ultimate trump card in Mercedes talks with Toto Wolff

With Verstappen off the market, Mercedes don’t really have any alternatives to Russell. Most of the desirable drivers are under contract elsewhere.

Even those with exit clauses appear likely to bide their time and assess the 2026 pecking order. For instance, former Mercedes target Carlos Sainz has re-committed to Williams.

As such, Rosberg says that Russell could threaten not to sign at all as the ultimate trump card in negotiations. There’s no indication that the situation has become that severe, though.

“George will be working on the bonuses, not on his base salary,” Rosberg explained. “He will say, ‘Toto, come on, if we’re winning together, and I’m on such a low salary, at least give me higher bonuses’.

“I think those would be the points where George is hanging it out. George has a lot of power obviously, and he can take it all the way to, ‘Well, then I’ll just stay home for a year’.”