Russell’s situation took a fresh twist after his own claim that “ongoing” talks between Verstappen and Mercedes were influencing his wait for a new deal, team principal Toto Wolff and Verstappen yet to shut down the idea that this union could come to be for F1 2026.

George Russell's Mercedes contract expires at the end of 2025, and a contract extension has yet to be signed. However, according to a report by FUno analisi tecnica, Russell was offered a 1+1 year contract extension until the end of 2026,