Toto Wolff confirms progress on George Russell’s Mercedes extension. Toto Wolff has revealed that the contract renewal with George Russell is very close.

Russell renewal: Wolff says we’re nearly there

It’s not often that a top F1 team reaches October without officially announcing the renewal of one of its drivers. In Mercedes’ case, this situation involves both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Both drivers have received strong assurances from team principal Toto Wolff and are almost certain to remain a pairing in 2026, especially following recent impressive performances. At the Singapore Grand Prix, where Russell secured pole position and a race victory, Wolff spoke of the renewal as being imminent.

Toto Wolff comments

“Well, we’re very close,” Wolff told Sky Sports UK. “From a contractual perspective, good things take time. But these are details, not matters of major significance.”

The delay could initially be attributed to Max Verstappen’s status, considering Toto Wolff’s desire to secure the Dutch superstar. With the reigning world champion confirming his stay at Red Bull for 2026, the Brackley team principal realized that there was no need to change his driver lineup and expressed full confidence in his current pairing.

Given that negotiations are still ongoing in October, it is very likely that George Russell, perhaps feeling overlooked while Wolff courted Verstappen, requested a multi-year contract, leveraging his strong on-track performances during discussions at the negotiating table.