George Russell entered the 2025 System 1 season in a captivating place. With Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari, Russell had inherited the veteran position at Mercedes, with younger phenom Kimi Antonelli securing the second seat with the Silver Arrows.
Like Antonelli, nevertheless, Russell additionally entered the yr on an expiring contract.
Because of an incredible begin to the 2025 season — Russell has three podium finishes over 4 race weekends to enter this week’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix fourth within the Drivers’ Championship standings — there are experiences that the driving force is near a brand new cope with Mercedes.
Talking with the media in Jeddah, Russell pressured that he was not … pressured about his contract standing with the crew.
“From my aspect, there’s actually no stress, no worries by any means,” started Russell when talking with Sky Sports activities F1. “In the case of contracts, everybody will get so enthusiastic about it, and the actual fact is, drivers have had contracts, and in the event that they don’t carry out, they’ll get booted out.
“For drivers, efficiency is our foreign money. That’s what we’ve bought. And when you carry out, the whole lot’s good. So, I’m simply excited to go racing this weekend, give attention to efficiency, and the long run kinds itself out.”
Russell was additionally requested a couple of report from Autosport that he was closing in on a brand new cope with the crew, that might see him signal for 2 extra seasons with an choice for a 3rd, in addition to rumors about Mercedes remaining inquisitive about securing Max Verstappen’s providers if potential.
“Rumors are by no means that truthful are they,” responded Russell.
“While you stated rumors, I didn’t actually hear a lot. Just a few of them are fairly shut, I assume, however on the finish of the day, we’ve by no means mentioned a contract previous to Might or June in a season.”
Russell then described the “ruthless” nature of System 1, the place “drive to outlive” is extra than simply the identify of a documentary collection, however a lifestyle.
“I’d say the extra irregular level is what number of drivers have these, type of, long-term offers.
“However everybody’s bought exit clauses, they’ve all bought efficiency clauses. A driver that’s on a three-year contract, it doesn’t actually imply something in the event that they’ve bought an exit clause, or the crew has an exit clause if the driving force doesn’t carry out. It doesn’t actually imply loads.
“When you’ve bought a contract with a crew however the crew needs you gone, the crew finds a solution to get you gone.
“That’s how this sport works, and that’s the way it ought to work as a result of we’re 20 of one of the best on this planet and it’s ruthless. There’s no time to fiddle. All you are able to do is give attention to driving quick.”
Russell will flip his consideration to driving quick on Friday, within the first of three observe classes on the difficult Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
