Russell drops uncertainty bomb on Mercedes future: 'Nothing is certain'

10:41, 08 Jun

byOlly Darcy

George Russell has commented on his future at Mercedes, stating that "nothing is certain" in regards to the 2026 season.

The 27-year-old has been at the German team since 2022, with his contract running out after the 2025 season.

Rumours surrounding the Brit and his future have been rife due to his expiring contract, with Aston Martin the latest to throw their hat into the ring after exploratory talks between Russell and Red Bull took place in April.

However, team boss and Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff has dismissed speculation that the German team would delay any sort of contract signing between the two parties, saying there is a "100% alignment."

Russell has taken three race wins and 18 podiums since joining Mercedes from Williams in 2022.

Russell says next year at Mercedes "is not certain"

But despite those words of affirmation from Woff regarding the contract situation, Russell says there is still a great unknown as to whether he will be at Mercedes for a fifth straight season.

"No, it's not certain. Nothing is certain," the 27-year-old admitted to formel1.de.

"But if I stay with Mercedes, next year will be my fifth year with the team. Nobody knows when their time will come. You just have to make sure you keep performing consistently, keep delivering. And what happens then—that remains to be seen."

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The performances from Russell in 2025 have been hugely impressive, guiding Mercedes to second place in the constructors' championship with 111 points to his name, aided by four podiums in seven races.

"I just drive, week by week," continued Russell when asked about battling and out-performing Lewis Hamilton in two out of the three seasons he had next to the seven-time world champion.

"I've always said I'm not afraid of being anyone's teammate. At the end of 2021, Lewis was the hottest prospect in the field. Nobody thought anyone at Mercedes could beat him as a teammate. I came in and performed from the first race. I've always believed in myself.

"The reputation he had is the same one Max [Verstappen] has now. Nobody believes Max is beatable. And that's exactly how people thought about Lewis back then. People forget that Lewis came into Formula 1 as a rookie back then—and finished on the podium in every one of his first six races [actually nine, ed.], with a two-time world champion as his teammate. That says a lot," concluded Russell.