Formula 1 Transfer Race: Mercedes Considers Signing Verstappen and Delays Russell's Contract Renewal
June 28, 202517 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed the team's interest in signing Dutch driver Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing for the 2026 season, leading to the postponement of negotiations for extending the contract of British driver George Russell, which expires at the end of this season.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports F1 before the Austrian Grand Prix, Russell explained that his contract has not been renewed yet due to the team's focus on signing Verstappen.
In response to a question about the possibility of replacing him or his teammate Kimi Antonelli with Verstappen, Wolff stated that he strongly supports Russell and there is no final plan yet.
Wolff indicated that he is open to the idea of pairing Verstappen and Russell at Mercedes, pointing out that managing the duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg between 2013 and 2016 was more challenging, so dealing with the competition between Verstappen and Russell is possible.
He confirmed that the team is very transparent with the drivers and holds discussions behind closed doors without publicly disclosing details.
Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, but he has clauses that allow him to leave before that date.
Wolff mentioned that discussions are ongoing but no final decision date has been set, denying any pressure or rush in the negotiations.
Despite the tension and several clashes between Verstappen and Russell during the last season, especially at the Abu Dhabi season finale and the Spanish Grand Prix, which witnessed a collision between them and penalties for Verstappen, Wolff did not rule out the possibility of managing the competition between them successfully in one team.
Regarding Russell's contract, Wolff cast doubt on his statements about the delay in negotiations, confirming that all parties are aware of the agreed-upon timeline in advance, and that the team is committed to renewing his contract with no actual delays.
