Russell in the press conference
Wolff reveals what Russell needs to do to get a new Mercedes contract
15:43, 27 Jun
Updated: 17:18, 27 Jun
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George Russell has been driving brilliantly so far this season and heads into Austria off the back of winning the Canadian Grand Prix.
The British driver has made very few mistakes behind the wheel and looked assured as a team leader alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Russell took the win last time out in Canada and has been spearheading Mercedes' challenge in the post-Lewis Hamilton era.
In Austria, Russell set the pace in FP1 as Mercedes enjoyed the benefits of some new updates on their car.
Despite the superb performances, he is without a contract for the 2026 season at the Mercedes team.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told GPBlog and others after first practice for the Austrian Grand Prix that he can't do any more to sign a new deal.
George Russell set the pace in FP1
Russell has "always performed to the expectations"
Wolff said: "Nothing. He has been part of our programme since 10 years or so. He's always performed to the expectations that we have said, and he's continuing to do so. We haven't given him a car to win World Championship in the last three years, so that's completely on us.
"The times the car has been good, has been winning races. You can see today, he's always there. You know that when he's getting in the car, he's going to extract what is in the car. Having said that, for whatever reason, in early summer, those kinds of contra discussions start to end up being accelerated in the media, or accelerated because of a lack of information.
"Well, what I have been doing the last 30 years in the normal business, contract discussions are not being held in us downholes. Everything is normal, everything goes to plan."
Mercedes have been rumoured to have been in discussions with reigning world champion Max Verstappen, while Antonelli should stay for 2026.
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