Toto Wolff gives intriguing six-word response when asked about George Russell’s Mercedes contract talks

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Mercedes are yet to tie down George Russell to a contract that will keep him as a Silver Arrow into the 2026 F1 season, with Toto Wolff offering an update at the Singapore Grand Prix on how close they are to securing a deal for the British driver.

Russell signed a two-year deal with Mercedes in 2023, which is set to expire upon the conclusion of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The 27-year-old is currently the highest-profile driver on the grid who is yet to have a seat set in stone for F1’s new regulations in 2026.

He has been in talks with Mercedes over renewing his current deal with the team for a matter of months now, with a “tug of war” ensuing between Russell and Mercedes as they iron out key details that will outline his place at the team in the coming years.

READ MORE: Martin Brundle names ‘extraordinary’ driver as the most underrated on the 2025 F1 grid

Toto Wolff reveals that Mercedes are “super close” to agreeing terms with George Russell

Russell is adamant that he can win a title at Mercedes, and is currently “all in” in the development of their 2026 car ahead of the new era of regulations next season.

The new ruleset is expected to reset the pecking order of the grid, giving the Mercedes man the perfect opportunity to participate in his first title fight since he joined F1 as a rookie in 2019.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 following the conclusion of FP3 at the Singapore Grand Prix, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was asked how close he is to completing an extension to Russell’s current contract, to which he gave an intriguing response with, “Well, we are, like, super near.”

When asked to elaborate a bit further on how many days, hours or minutes we can expect to receive an announcement, the Austrian executive replied with a grin, “Something like that.”

It’s clear that the German constructor needs Russell as much as the 27-year-old needs them. Russell has often overachieved at Mercedes throughout the current campaign, with Jenson Button believing that he is currently having a better season than Max Verstappen.

A conclusion to the months-long saga sounds imminent as they wrestle with each other’s demands in the final key details of the new contract.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen makes ‘very strong’ Mercedes 2026 F1 claim after deciding to stay at Red Bull

Kimi Antonelli has had a tough time trying to keep up with George Russell in his rookie F1 season

The spotlight has been on Kimi Antonelli in his maiden season in Formula 1, after he was chosen to fill the shoes of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes following his departure to Ferrari.

The 19-year-old has had a rollercoaster of a season, which, in Jolyon Palmer’s opinion, has been compounded by the impressive performances by Russell.

The former F1 driver believes Antonelli is under more pressure because of the high-flying Russell, comparing the young Italian’s rookie season to Verstappen’s debut year in 2015, where he was matched up against a fellow rookie in Carlos Sainz.

Antonelli is also without a deal for the 2026 season, with it also being expected that he will receive a new contract within the coming weeks.