Why Mercedes should sign Russell to a new long term deal

For some reason, Russell has failed to capture the imagination of fans and never performed too well in the popularity stakes.

Maybe it is because he is too quintessentially British. Or perhaps it was the way Drive to Survive was edited to portray him as some Machiavellian type that enjoys schadenfreude?

More recently, he has been positioned as Max Verstappen’s nemesis in what appears to be an even bigger leap of artistic licence. In the past, there have been attempts to bring out his personality both by his Mercedes team and his own management. The use of social media brand builders has not done the trick in the same way it has for Valtteri Bottas.

When he was teammates with Hamilton, there was a fear that he’d be swallowed up by the seven-time world champion, only he wasn’t. Russell held his own, not only with his personality but with performances on track.

Russell is now in his seventh season in F1 but is still only 27 years old and exhibits a maturity beyond those years. He is not only a team leader at Mercedes, he is also director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association. He’s got a confidence and speaks out when he needs to on subjects that matter to him.

To those of us who know him, he is extremely well-mannered and courteous. He’s a person who, if you bumped into him in a public place, would happily come over and ask how you are and exchange pleasantries. That’s a rarity with modern sports stars in any discipline, let alone those at the very top of their game.

Of course, the critics could say it is because he is not challenging for wins too often and that the pressure is not on him, only that’s not the case. While he remains without a contract for 2026, the pressure is most definitely on.

And now, he’s proving he is in contention for wins, having won in Canada and taken podiums in Australia, China, Bahrain, Miami, Hungary and Azerbaijan this season.

He’s also done so without having the quickest car, something Norris has been blessed with. There is an undeniable feeling that had Russell been driving the McLaren all season, then it would be him leading the world championship.

You see, Russell is the real deal, which is why it is so baffling that he has not yet been tied down to a new long-term contract with Mercedes. Toto Wolff’s flirtation with Verstappen was totally understandable given the Dutchman’s talent.

But the moment it became clear that he was not leaving Red Bull, Wolff’s priority should have been signing up Russell, who has proved an excellent leader having stepped out of Hamilton’s shadow.

Russell’s Singapore pole wasn’t just a statement of speed - it was a reminder of stature. He’s matured into a driver capable of extracting everything from a car that isn’t yet a world-beater, while leading Mercedes through its transition with the composure of a champion-in-waiting.

The numbers, the consistency, and the leadership all point in one direction: Russell is ready to be the man Mercedes builds around. If the team doesn’t move quickly to secure his future, someone else in the paddock surely will.

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