Wolff: Russell will be signing a new contract 'very soon'.

      "Performance is our only currency"

      George Russell is expected to have a new contract finalized "pretty soon," as stated by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Although the British driver is currently performing at his best, his existing contract is nearing its end, and discussions about an extension have been postponed for the time being. When asked about the timeline, Wolff remarked, "I guess before the summer."

      In an interview with the New York Times, the 27-year-old Russell expressed some frustration regarding the trend where contract negotiations and signings are happening earlier than ever before. "When Lewis (Hamilton) was here, they never discussed the contract before June or July," he noted. "It was always during the summer. The unusual aspect is how many drivers have signed so early. I believe many drivers who are overly focused on securing their futures may lack confidence in themselves and feel the need for that assurance."

      Russell’s rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli, who is a protégé of Wolff and a family friend, appears to be firmly established in the other seat. Mercedes has even sponsored a new Netflix series titled "The Seat," which showcases how the young Italian was chosen to take over from Hamilton. The team described the show on social media as "an unprecedented inside look into the biggest driver change in F1 history," and noted that it was "brought to you" by their sponsor, WhatsApp.

      Last year, Wolff made significant efforts to attract Max Verstappen away from the turmoil at Red Bull to race for Mercedes instead. Some experts now speculate that Wolff is keeping Russell's current position potentially open for Verstappen in 2026. "Now, it depends on whether Max honors his contract," former Racing Bulls chief Franz Tost told Sport1. "If he does move, several teams would be available to him, with Mercedes being the top choice. However, Aston Martin could also attract his interest," the Austrian added.

      Russell has publicly shown no worries about potentially being left without a seat while he is performing at his peak. Recent reports indicate that initial discussions with Red Bull regarding replacing Verstappen have already begun. "Performance is our only currency," Russell remarked. "If you perform, everything else falls into place. When people are dissatisfied, they seek change, so we’ll see. I expect it to be an intriguing summer."

      Some insiders believe that Wolff’s recent signals suggest he is now less focused on signing Verstappen, given the speed and synergy in the Russell-Antonelli partnership. Wolff assures the Briton that he should soon have a new deal in hand. "He has a contract. We just need to finalize the details," the Austrian noted.

      Regarding his situation, Russell mentioned, "In this sport, performance is everything. So I don't feel any pressure. I'm confident in myself, and everything will align when the time is right. As I said, we have bigger priorities right now, which is to get back to the top."