Mercedes and Russell cannot agree on a new contract.

      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has already said that extending George Russell's contract for next season is a done deal and that only formalities remain to be agreed. However, according to the British press, in reality things are not as smooth as they appear to the public.

      Mercedes does indeed want to extend the driver's contract, but the agreement has still not been signed because the parties cannot agree on several key points.

      The first point of contention is the salary. George Russell, whose pay is estimated by experts at $15 million a year, insists on a raise as the recognised leader of the team. Mercedes are prepared to make concessions, but the exact figure currently under discussion has not been disclosed. In addition, George is insisting on a reduction in the number of promotional days per year he is required to attend.

      The second disagreement, on which the parties have so far been unable to reach a compromise, is the length of the contract. Russell wants to sign a two-year deal running until the end of 2027, whereas Mercedes are offering him a one-year contract for 2026 with the option to extend subject to the driver achieving certain results.

      Mercedes do not want to take on a two-year commitment to George, as they have not given up hope of signing Max Verstappen, who is formally expected to decide on his future plans in the summer of 2026.

      Experts are confident that Mercedes and George Russell will find a compromise one way or another, but how quickly that will happen remains unclear.