George Russell brushed off recent speculation that he might be replaced at Mercedes by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, stating he anticipates signing a new contract with the Silver Arrows “in the next couple of weeks.”
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday ahead of the British Grand Prix, the 27-year-old British driver appeared relaxed. He told reporters, “There are a lot of conversations behind the scenes that are not public… and I know where their loyalty lies.” Russell added that these private discussions don’t need to be publicly broadcast.
He acknowledged the increased talks over the past week due to numerous news articles but insisted it hasn’t changed his perspective. “The more we speak or the less we speak about it, nothing really changes. It’ll happen when the time is right,” he commented, reiterating his expectation for something to happen “probably in the next couple of weeks.”
Russell emphasized that his future hinges on his performance, regardless of whether Verstappen has reportedly accepted an offer from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “I have quite a thick skin and I don’t really read much news or listen to rumours,” he said. “I just focus on the facts and on driving. I said it at the start of the year: you can have a contract, but if you don’t perform, you’re out.” Russell also confirmed that he hasn’t approached any other teams for a 2026 seat.
Discussion about this post