Russell earns full backing amid negotiations: 'He should have a contract for life!'

After months of relentless rumors, Max Verstappen has personally put to rest the speculation about a possible move to Mercedes in 2026 by confirming his continuation with Red Bull, accordingly allowing George Russell to breathe a long sigh of relief.

The announcement of the British driver’s contract renewal now appears to be a mere formality, although no official date has been set yet.

Nothing that should worry George, with Bradley Lord telling GPBlog during a small media gathering in Hungary that “there can be myriad reasons why we haven't yet announced what we're doing in 2026.”

What is certain is that Russell can rely on his strong performances this season, including his recent podium in Budapest, which was also helped by issues faced by Charles Leclerc that affected the Monegasque’s race.

Guenther Steiner, talking on the Red Flags podcast, also believes that the Briton has more than earned his contract renewal: ''He deserves it. He's doing a good job. He's leading the team. He knows everything. He knows what Ferrari did. He knows what the engineers should be doing.''

He then added jokingly: ''I think he should have a contract for life, in my opinion.''