Mercedes Team Faces Sluggish Progress Due to Confidence Crisis Following Link Loss
Mercedes and Its Drivers Navigate Contract Negotiations Amidst Verstappen Speculation
In the world of Formula One, the ongoing contract negotiations between Mercedes and its drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have been shrouded in uncertainty due to the persistent rumours surrounding Max Verstappen's potential move to the German team.
Russell, currently in the midst of a challenging season, finds himself trailing overall leader Oscar Piastri in the drivers' championship. Despite this setback, he remains hopeful about his future with Mercedes. Russell has expressed interest in a long-term contract if Mercedes can regain its title-fighting form after the major rule change next year.
For Antonelli, the rookie driver, the last three races have been scoreless following a promising debut. The young driver received a morale boost during a brief visit from Lewis Hamilton, a Ferrari superstar, who offered comfort. Despite the struggles, Mercedes appears committed to retaining Antonelli as part of their long-term talent development strategy.
The flirtation with Verstappen could reignite if Mercedes performs well in the future, potentially offering him a cockpit for 2027. However, Verstappen's formal commitment to Red Bull for 2026 has removed significant uncertainty, paving the way for Mercedes to finalize deals with Russell and Antonelli without concerns about a Verstappen takeover.
Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes, called for an emergency meeting before the Hungary Grand Prix, attended by engineers, drivers George Russell, and Kimi Antonelli. As of early August 2025, George Russell does not yet have a contract extension officially on the table with Mercedes, but negotiations are actively ongoing, with Mercedes expected to offer him a new deal potentially extending two years, through 2027.
In the constructors' championship, McLaren, powered by Mercedes engines, is 296 points ahead after 13 world championship races. Meanwhile, Red Bull faces uncertainty due to the departure of engine partner Honda and recent turmoil surrounding the dismissal of long-time team principal Christian Horner.
The old rear axle will be used again, and the experiment with a new suspension will be definitively ended in Hungary. Since Russell's victory in Canada in mid-June, Mercedes has not performed well. After his early exit in the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying last week, Antonelli shed tears. The ongoing speculations about Verstappen continue to hover over the negotiations between Toto Wolff and his drivers.
In summary, George Russell is expected to receive a multi-year Mercedes contract extension, reflecting his value as their lead driver approaching the 2026 rules era. Kimi Antonelli’s contract is pending but is likely to be renewed as Mercedes continues his development. Max Verstappen’s commitment to Red Bull for 2026 has removed major uncertainty, allowing Mercedes and Wolff to focus on securing their driver lineup without external speculation.
[1] Autosport. (2025). Mercedes to offer George Russell new deal potentially extending two years, through 2027. Retrieved from https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/170478/mercedes-to-offer-george-russell-new-deal-potentially-extending-two-years-through-2027
[2] Motorsport.com. (2025). Toto Wolff: Russell and Antonelli contracts not affected by Verstappen speculation. Retrieved from https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/toto-wolff-russell-and-antonelli-contracts-not-affected-by-verstappen-speculation/6556207/
[3] RacingNews365.com. (2025). George Russell: I trust Mercedes to sort out my contract situation. Retrieved from https://www.racingnews365.com/f1/george-russell-i-trust-mercedes-to-sort-out-my-contract-situation
[4] Sky Sports. (2025). George Russell confident of staying at Mercedes despite contract uncertainty. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12306/12430838/george-russell-confident-of-staying-at-mercedes-despite-contract-uncertainty
Sports enthusiasts can anticipate George Russell's potential future with Mercedes, as he is expected to receive a multi-year contract extension through 2027. Despite ongoing contract negotiations, the flirtation with Max Verstappen has lessened, allowing Mercedes to focus solely on securing Russell's commitment. Meanwhile, the sports world also keeps an eye on young driver Kimi Antonelli, whose contract with Mercedes is still pending but expected to be renewed as part of their long-term talent development strategy.
