Toto Wolff could be about to break one George Russell promise amid 2026 Mercedes contract talks

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Toto Wolff is yet to confirm his Mercedes driver line-up for the 2026 Formula 1 season, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli out of contract.

The Silver Arrows have been at the centre of the F1 driver market this season. Mercedes were pursuing a deal for Max Verstappen as his future at Red Bull faced uncertainty, but in the end, he committed to staying in Milton Keynes.

But the prospect of Verstappen joining Mercedes in 2027 still hangs over Russell, with the Dutchman’s negotiations directly impacting his. The Brit and rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli both came into 2025 knowing they could become free agents over the winter.

Russell signed his current contract in 2023, while his teammate signed his first F1 deal at the Italian Grand Prix last year. Antonelli was only offered a one-year contract so Mercedes could assess his performance before committing long-term.

With Verstappen staying put at Red Bull for 2026, the consensus is that Russell and Antonelli will be retained by Mercedes. However, as the Dutch Grand Prix approaches, nothing has been agreed between either driver and the team.

Toto Wolff could break his promise to George Russell that he won’t leave it to Monza to give him a new contract

Russell’s intentions have always been to stay at Mercedes, but he has faced difficulties in negotiations due to the delay for his new extension. This is nothing new for the Silver Arrows; Mercedes ‘never’ talked to Lewis Hamilton before the summer break about his contract.

It explains why the seven-time champion typically extended his contracts after the summer and why Antonelli had to wait until Monza to get his deal. But Wolff had promised that things would change in 2025.

As journalist Ian Parkes notes via the RacingNews365 Podcast, the team principal had said that Russell would not have to wait until the Italian GP to get a contract. Now under two weeks out from the race, and Wolff could be about to break that promise as the wait continues for the Brit.

“I remember very early on in the season when Toto Wolff was in the FIA press conference on a Friday. I can’t remember which circuit it was, but it was very early on,” said Parkes.

“And even then, there were people talking about the fact that George and Kimi had only been given one-year contracts.

“And I said to Toto: ‘Surely you’re not going to leave it as long as you did last year and wait until the Italian Grand Prix before announcing your driver line-up, or certainly at least Kimi’.

“And he said: ‘No, that’s not going to happen’. And here we are, less than two weeks away before the Italian Grand Prix and we still don’t have the Mercedes driver line-up yet.”

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George Russell may not sign his preferred contract at Mercedes

Russell has been one of the standout drivers in 2025, joining Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Verstappen to have won a Grand Prix after dominating in Canada. It is therefore bizarre to think that the 27-year-old could be out of a drive come the end of the year.

The Brit will want a long-term deal at Mercedes, but Verstappen’s future puts him in a difficult situation. Russell may be forced to sign a one-year deal, which would allow the Brackley outfit to be flexible and try to sign the Red Bull driver if he becomes available.

Furthermore, Wolff could ‘manipulate’ Russell’s contract to include an escape clause, making it easier to sign Verstappen. The Brit will certainly be the hottest free agent on the market if he leaves the team, but he does not have many top offers available to him.

Wolff has told Russell he’s part of Mercedes’ future as he gives him assurances about his contract. But as time wears on, he may have no choice but to sign a deal he would not be comfortable with.