Russell set to stay with Mercedes with new contract looming

Rhonan Colquhoun 13:36pm 17th April 2025

GEORGE Russell is poised to sign a brand-new contract to keep the Brit at Mercedes for 2026 and beyond.

Russell, who has driven for the Silver Arrows since 2022, currently lies fourth in the Driver's Championship on 63 points and only 14 points adrift of Championship Leader Lando Norris after four rounds of the 2025 World Championship.

The British driver has finished every race inside the top five - including the Sprint Race at the Chinese Grand Prix - and has secured three podiums which includes his impressive second place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite dealing with his failing W16 car.

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Russell was granted a contract extension in the middle of last year for 2025 with Team Principal Toto Wolff eager to confirm his driver line-up after the shock announcement that star driver Lewis Hamilton would be moving to Ferrari.

Wolff had engaged in talks with Red Bull driver and defending World Champion Max Verstappen about his availability but the Dutchman chose to remain at his current outfit.

After Russell's impressive start to the season - taking up the mantle as team leader and out-qualifying his new rookie team-mate Kimi Antonelli at every race weekend so far - it looks like the 27 year-old driver is set to sign a new deal which secures his immediate future.

The rumoured deal is suspected to last two year with an option for a third year which would see Russel remain at Mercedes for 2026, 2027 and potentially 2028.

This new deal would bring Russell in line with other drivers on the grid with Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Verstappen locked-in until 2028 with McLaren's Piastri and Lando Norris also on similar long-term contracts.