Toto Wolff warned he’d be ‘a fool’ if Mercedes let one George Russell scenario materialise

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George Russell heads to the Austrian Grand Prix looking to win back-to-back F1 races for the first time after he scored Mercedes their first win of 2025 at the Canadian GP.

The 27-year-old also has the chance to win multiple races at the same track for the first time in his career this week after Russell won the 2024 Austrian GP. Mercedes saw their star steal the win in Styria last season as he capitalised on Max Verstappen crashing into Lando Norris.

Russell did not have to pick up the pieces from a rival’s dismay to conquer the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve last time out. The Briton produced the perfect weekend at the 2025 Canadian GP to win from pole position, while even posting the fastest lap during the race on Lap 63 of 70.

Toto Wolff would ‘be a fool’ not to give George Russell a new Mercedes contract

Mercedes’ upgraded rear suspension returning in Canada helped Russell control the race, as rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli even scored the first podium finish of his career. The double-podium took Mercedes to second place in the constructors’ standings over Ferrari.

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

Russell has earned 136 of the 199 points that Mercedes have so far in the 2025 F1 season to also hold fourth in the F1 drivers’ championship ahead of the Austrian GP. Yet the Briton does not hold a contract for 2026, as Mercedes last handed Russell a fresh deal in August 2023.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff would be ‘a fool’ not to give Russell a new contract after his performances this term, according to Anthony Davidson, though. The only scenario the ex-BAR driver feels would justify letting Russell leave is if Mercedes were to sign Verstappen.

Davidson told Sky Sports News (26/6, 11:43): “I don’t want to assume that Russell is going to stay, but he’s obviously very much part of the family.

“He’s the original young driver who came up through that driver academy within Mercedes. They nurtured his career through F3, F2 and then into Williams with a Mercedes power unit and now into Mercedes. And he’s a race winner.

“He’s really driving a strong season this year. And I think, unless Verstappen were to come onto the market, you’d be a fool not to sign Russell.”

Is George Russell leaving Mercedes after the 2025 F1 season?

On paper, Russell is leaving Mercedes after the 2025 F1 season to the interest of rival teams like Aston Martin and Red Bull with his contract due to expire. But Russell’s priority is to stay at Mercedes in 2026, should the Brackley team also want him to stay with the Silver Arrows.

However, Russell is starting to doubt if Wolff wants to give him a new Mercedes contract, as the team have so far hesitated to finalise a fresh deal. Despite his form since becoming their team leader after Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari, Wolff is pushing to sign Verstappen, as well.

So, while it was expected that Russell would sign a new £46m two-year Mercedes contract, some teams are sniffing around. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has held informal talks with Russell about potentially replacing Verstappen, who can break out of his contract.

Additionally, Aston Martin have expressed their interest in signing Russell, but a move to the Silverstone squad in the 2026 season would force them to drop Fernando Alonso or Lance Stroll. Aston Martin have Alonso and Stroll, the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll, tied up.