George Russell says speculation over his Formula 1 future has been blown out of proportion, insisting there’s “a lot more hype externally than there is internally” as Mercedes continues to weigh up its 2026 line-up.
The Briton triggered the gossip surrounding his position at the team back in June by revealing Mercedes had held talks with reigning World Champion Max Verstappen.
Both he and team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli are out of contract at the season’s end, with no new deals signed.
Now a four-time race winner and sitting third in the standings after victory in Canada, Russell has hit his best form since joining Mercedes as a full-time driver in 2022.
Yet with Verstappen’s uncertain Red Bull future stirring the market, the 27-year-old finds his seat unexpectedly under scrutiny.
Still, ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, Russell reiterated that he remains unfazed when asked for an update on his discussions over a contract extension.
“I mean, the conversations have been ongoing, but not sort of directly with me as such,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“There’s a lot more hype around it externally than there is internally.
“I think about it on a Thursday, because you guys asked me the question, but these past few months have sort of allowed me to think [about] how I feel about a scenario like this.
“You can choose to stress about it, you can choose to try and secure your future, or you can choose not to worry about it and focus on the things such as performance, which secures your future for you.
“So right now, my view, these two weeks off have been great to reset, sort of psychologically and mentally.
“I feel happier probably now than I was in the months gone by, and at peace with everything that’s going on.
“And I’m just thinking about race by race, and I’m in no rush to secure my future. It’ll be what it’ll be.”
Russell unbothered by Wolff’s public backing
The speculation around his future has died down since Mercedes boss Toto Wolff publicly stated that retaining Russell and Antonelli is a “top priority” for the team.
When probed about those comments, the Mercedes driver played them down, making clear that he isn’t relying on external assurances to feel secure about his future.
“No, not really – that was for you, not for me,” Russell answered.
“What happens behind closed doors is behind closed doors. Nothing from my side has changed.
“I wasn’t even aware of this statement until one hour ago. So it’s not something I’m looking for.
“It’s not something I really care about, and as I said, these last months of going from the position where I was stressed about my future and I was concerned about it, and I’ve continued to perform, I just think it’s in my own hands.
“So there’s no point losing sleep about it. Mercedes need the best drivers in their race car and I believe that I’m right up there.
“I don’t think there’s many people doing a better job than I am. So, I need them and they need me and that’s how it goes in racing.”
Russell in no rush as Mercedes weigh up next move
On whether the timeline for his contract talks might speed up, Russell explained: “I think it’s got to be right both ways.
“To be honest, the intention was always pre-summer break because that’s just [when] people go to summer and you want to get something sorted.
“I mean, realistically, is that going to be the case? I don’t know. There is still no contract on the table, so to have something done in the space of two weeks isn’t likely and it’s got to work both ways.
“You need to talk about the finer details and Formula One’s evolving so much now. You need to go through everything with a fine-toothed comb to make sure it’s all okay.
“But as I said, there is no rush really from my side because ultimately Toto and the team will decide what they wish to do and I will be in a position of sort of reacting to what they wish to do.
“So, as I said, I’m just focusing on performance and everything else will sort itself out.”
Russell also reflected on the unusual dynamic of being managed by the same team he races for, acknowledging the dual role Mercedes plays in his career.
“Yeah, I mean, this is obviously a bit of a unique situation where we find ourselves in,” he said.
“I’ve always had my best interests at heart, and we’ll find out what happens in the future, but I still have no reason to be concerned about my future with Mercedes, and ultimately, what’s the worst that’s going to happen if I’m performing? I’ll still be in Formula 1, and I will be somewhat competitive.
“So from my side, it just makes you think again. It just comes down to yourself. You’re in control of your own destiny.
“It’s a bit of a unique situation that I’m managed by the team [that] I’m racing for, but that’s the same for Kimi as well, and that’s the position we find ourselves in.”
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