Toto Wolff has spoken again about George Russell’s future after the Hungarian Grand Prix: will the English driver stay at Mercedes in 2026?
At the Hungarian Grand Prix, George Russell secured an impressive podium behind the untouchable McLaren cars. After the race, Toto Wolff discussed the future of the English driver, confirming that Russell will remain with Mercedes for the 2026 season. However, the German team principal clarified that contract negotiations are still ongoing behind the scenes.
George Russell’s contract renewal with Mercedes has been one of the most talked-about topics this season, fueled by rumors about a possible arrival of Max Verstappen at Toto Wolff’s team. On the eve of the Hungarian Grand Prix, however, the Dutch world champion made it clear he will stay at Red Bull, aiming to put an end to speculation.
Before this Hungarian weekend, Russell stated he had “never feared losing his seat” during this year’s negotiations: “I’ve waited so long, and now I just want to get through this weekend. I want to go on holiday next week and enjoy the break. There’s no pressure from me or the team. So when we find an agreement, we will sign it, but it has to be good for both parties.”
After the race, when asked if contract talks were now in a “better phase,” Toto Wolff replied: “George has always had good cards because he has always delivered results since 2018. There hasn’t been a season where he wasn’t up to the mark, and this hasn’t changed our idea for next year.”
“Just because it’s not talked about publicly doesn’t mean things aren’t progressing internally in the relationship, and as far as the contract goes, we’ll see. We will announce what kind of agreement we have proposed, but he is definitely staying with us. The team is strong. He showed that again today.”
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