Rob Smedley says George Russell must heed Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton warning amid 2026 contract talks

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Mercedes are delaying George Russell’s contract extension even further as he comes into the United States Grand Prix without putting pen to paper for 2026.

The Brit claimed victory in Singapore with a dominant display from pole position. His stock has never been higher as he sits fourth in the drivers’ championship.

Yet, Russell does not have a contract for 2026, despite constant reassurances from Toto Wolff that he and Kimi Antonelli will be retained. There have been rumours of friction between the two parties amid the prospect of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes.

Ralf Schumacher has noticed ‘unrest’ between Wolff and Russell as the negotiations wear on. The Brit wants long-term security from the Silver Arrows, but the former has made it no secret that he wants Verstappen in his car.

Russell has been insulted by Wolff due to his interest in the four-time champion. The 27-year-old has clashed several times with Verstappen in the past, and he must now be prepared for the scenario where the Dutchman replaces him.

George Russell warned Mercedes could offer Lewis Hamilton’s one-plus-one deal amid Max Verstappen interest

The Brit wants a long-term extension at Mercedes, but rumours have suggested that Russell could be forced to sign a one-year deal as Wolff plots a move for Verstappen in 2027.

As former race engineer Rob Smedley notes, Russell is in a similar situation to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. He was offered a one-plus-one deal in 2023, which ultimately led to his exit for Ferrari in 2025.

Speaking via F1 Nation, Smedley says Mercedes will be prepared to do it again with Russell if it means they could sign Verstappen: “I mean, my understanding on that is that Mercedes, quite rightly, like any team with half an ounce of sense, are going to try to get Max Verstappen in their car.

“You just want the best athlete on your team, whether or not that athlete is designing the car or driving the car, whatever it is, you just want the best athlete, right?

“And I think it’s then up to the senior, like the executive team, to kind of manage that situation, but get the best athlete first off and then we’ll manage the fallout of having that best athlete, whatever your sports team is.

“And remember that we had this situation very recently as well in Mercedes where the seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was offered a one-plus-one deal.

“So there was security for a year and then at the end of that year, all bets were off and we would see whether we renewed for the other one or two years.

“So I think if Mercedes are prepared to do that with Lewis Hamilton, they’re certainly going to be prepared to do it with George if the prize is Max Verstappen.”

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

Rob Smedley says Mercedes hold all the power with George Russell’s negotiations

Smedley added that Mercedes have the power when it comes to Russell’s negotiations. The Silver Arrows are expected to have the fastest engine under the 2026 F1 regulations, and they know that competitive options are limited for the Brit if he leaves.

“We’re just trying to see it from the point of view of Mercedes trying to get that big prize. And don’t forget, it’s a chess game, isn’t it?” he said.

“This is a risk for Mercedes, but also they’ll be balancing that risk of like, well, where would George really go to?

“What do you do? Do you take a year in what is still effectively a top team and could very much be the dominant team from next year with a lottery of the new regulations? So are you going to do that?

“Or do you think the better deal is a midfield team that never has any chance of winning a world championship, but I can get three, four, five years security?

“Of course, they will have weighed that risk up and think that George and his team, his management team will always back Mercedes in this case, because there aren’t any other top cars out there.”