George Russell reflects on expiring Mercedes contract: “I’m not in a rush, no pressure or concerns”. George Russell discusses his expiring contract with Mercedes, saying there's no rush or pressure.

Attention to Ferrari and Red Bull
Two races and two podium finishes for George Russell, always in third place at the wheel of his Mercedes W16, in the opening rounds in Australia and China. For the Briton, the goal will obviously be to achieve a triple this weekend in Japan, at Suzuka, a track where he has never finished in the top three in Formula 1. However, in the pre-GP press conference, the Briton did not want to get carried away with what could potentially be favorable outcomes in the Japanese race: “The first two races were fantastic, and we couldn’t have hoped for more,” he commented in his media session. “But I think we also need to be realistic. We’re just two races into a long season, and I believe Ferrari, and maybe Red Bull, have not yet maximized their potential. So, we don’t want to get carried away thinking this is possible week after week. But we certainly know that if we do the best job we can, we’ll be up there among the main contenders.” – he pointed out.

The ‘test’ in Suzuka
George Russell wants to stay grounded and not get swept up in the excitement, but the pace of the W16 has still surprised the #63: “Yes. We know we’ve always been very strong in qualifying, but in China, it was quite nice to see that our race pace was also pretty good, and we were the second-fastest team. There are many positive aspects to consider. We’re going to Japan, which was probably one of our worst races last year, so it will be an interesting test to see if we’ve improved the car compared to 12 months ago.”

Toto Wolff’s support
A comment then came on recent remarks from Team Principal Toto Wolff, who expressed great satisfaction with Russell’s performances, especially in China: “I don’t read what’s said in the press or on social media. So, as far as I’m concerned, I only found out this morning when someone told me. Of course, it’s nice to know, but I know he’s always supported me, had my back, and believes in me. That’s the most important thing: what happens inside versus what’s shown to the world. I know I have everyone’s support. We’re all in this together. We’re all fighting for the same common goal, and it’s an exciting time for us.”

The contract
George Russell also didn’t want to dwell on matters related to his contract renewal in the short term, especially if the Briton were to enter the title fight, stating that the agreements reached with the team are not particularly complex to finalize: “For me, there’s no stress regarding the contract,” he added. “In F1, even when contracts are in place, things change very quickly. I believe in myself. You have to deliver performance, and that’s very simple. When it comes to discussing a contract, with us in the past, with Toto, it didn’t take more than 24 hours to have a conversation, then it went to the lawyers, and the agreement was reached. So, there’s no rush on my part, no worries, no pressure. I’m enjoying my position in the sport, enjoying my performances, and enjoying the races. That’s the main priority right now.” – the Mercedes driver concluded ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.