Overview

• George Russell confirms no formal talks have begun on a new Mercedes contract as the team prioritizes performance improvements for 2025
• The 27-year-old has claimed four podiums in the first six races and says he has proven his worth over three and a half seasons
• Russell insists he intends to remain with Mercedes next year and expects team principal Toto Wolff to share that goal
• Max Verstappen remains under consideration for 2026 after a clause in his Red Bull deal could free him if he is outside the top four by the end of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend
• Mercedes is also monitoring junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli as a long-term prospect for its race lineup