Toto Wolff: “George Russell will sleep easy during the summer break” | 2025 F1 season. Toto Wolff confirms that George Russell’s contract renewal with Mercedes is nearly finalized.

Contract Renewal Just Steps Away

The multi-year deal is reported to secure George Russell’s place at Mercedes at least until the end of the 2027 season. The new contract is expected to include a salary package in the region of £30 million per year, putting Russell on par with other leading Formula 1 drivers such as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Max Verstappen’s decision to remain with Red Bull Racing beyond 2025 has effectively unlocked negotiations between George Russell and Mercedes. Throughout the first half of the 2025 season, Russell has consistently delivered impressive performances, and he has been candid about his confidence in continuing to race in Formula 1 next year.

Russell has also acknowledged that it is perfectly natural for Toto Wolff to closely monitor Verstappen’s future. After all, any reputable team principal would seize the opportunity to secure the services of the grid’s best driver if possible. Addressing the media following the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, Wolff spoke about the dynamic involving Russell, Verstappen, and Mercedes — a situation that appears to be reaching its conclusion, at least for the short term.

“I think it was Russell who sparked all the media speculation on this subject,” Wolff said, as reported by motorsportweek.com. “I had been transparent with him, explaining that I have the responsibility to understand what Verstappen intends to do in the coming years. I believe Russell simply wanted to make it clear that he knows how things work and that nothing should be done behind his back. I would have liked to confirm things much earlier, but I couldn’t. I am optimistic that he will sleep easy during the summer break.”

This statement from Toto Wolff suggests that Mercedes is keen to maintain stability within its driver lineup and that George Russell can now focus on the rest of the season without uncertainty hanging over his future. With the contractual matters nearly resolved, the British driver will likely enter the second half of the 2025 Formula 1 championship fully focused on delivering top performances for the team.