Wolff states that the Russell deal is 'confirmed' following the victory in Singapore.
"Don’t worry, we will make an announcement soon."
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has virtually confirmed that Singapore Grand Prix champion George Russell will remain with the team for the 2026 season, putting an end to weeks of speculation regarding contract negotiations. Russell's commanding victory from pole position seems to have resolved the issue following a stressful period of discussions about salary, sponsorship obligations, and contract duration. The 27-year-old is reportedly looking for new personal management outside of Mercedes, which has contributed to the delay in negotiations.
For now, however, Wolff states that both Russell and young Italian Kimi Antonelli are secured for the upcoming season. Ralf Schumacher questioned Wolff about the rumors during a live segment on Sky Deutschland after the race, saying, "It's your own fault; the car is still available for next year." Wolff responded, "Yes, but the car is also fast. Don’t worry, we’ll announce something soon."
Presenter Peter Hardenacke then inquired if Antonelli's contract was finalized. "Yes. Both confirmed," Wolff replied. Hardenacke chuckled, "Both confirmed? Alright, we’ll take that at face value." Schumacher remarked, "Mercedes can skip the press release now – he just disclosed it exclusively." Wolff smiled and reassured, "Don’t worry, we’ll announce it."
Former driver Giedo van der Garde expressed to Viaplay that Russell's performance in Singapore may have secured him a lucrative contract extension. "I believe he has a substantial contract waiting for him now," he stated. "In my opinion, a pairing of Russell and Max (Verstappen) would be fantastic. I think Max wants that too, and likely Russell does as well, but I’m skeptical it will materialize."
Wolff has typically preferred to keep his options open for 2027, a year when Verstappen could potentially be available. However, the Austrian acknowledged how much his current driver has grown since the infamous late-race incident in Singapore two years ago. "Yes, I think we’ve witnessed George having such moments before," said Wolff. "But not recently – that's a progress he has made this year, avoiding those kinds of incidents."
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