Sky F1’s Martin Brundle believes George Russell’s position in ongoing contract negotiations with Mercedes has significantly strengthened – especially now that Max Verstappen has confirmed he will remain at Red Bull for the 2026 season.
The confirmation from Verstappen ends a long period of speculation linking the reigning world champion to a sensational switch to Mercedes, which could have threatened Russell’s future with the Brackley-based team.
But now, with Verstappen off the market, Brundle says Russell stands out as the clear best choice for Mercedes moving forward.
“The cards have turned around because suddenly George is by far and away the best driver available, in the world, in F1 who doesn’t have a contract,” Brundle said during Sky’s coverage ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“Now he’s like ‘I will slow this down’. That’s how I am reading it.”
Timing and Performance Align for Russell
Russell is currently enjoying his most consistent and competitive season in Formula 1, having emerged as Mercedes’ standout performer during a period of rebuilding under the ground-effect regulations introduced in 2022.
While the team has only managed six wins in that span, Russell has continued to grow in stature and believes he’s ready to contend for titles – particularly with Mercedes expected to produce the grid's most competitive power unit under the 2026 engine regulations.
Brundle, speaking from experience as both a former driver and manager, highlighted the importance of timing and negotiating power for a driver in Russell’s position.
“Performance is everything, there is no doubt about it,” he said. “They all know, roughly, what each other earns. So George won’t want to be underpaid, why should he be?
“He will want some certainty. What we won’t want to do is: to find himself in this position again next year if Max Verstappen is on the market.”
Brundle also warned about undervaluing oneself in public negotiations, referencing earlier comments from Russell suggesting he would drive for Mercedes under any conditions.
“If I was managing George I’d have said: don’t say you’ll drive for nothing, or don’t say you’ll pay, because that will come back to hurt us! But I know what he was trying to say,” he added.
Eye on Title Charge
With Verstappen off the table and Mercedes entering F1’s new technical era in 2026, Russell may now be in a prime position not only to secure a lucrative long-term deal but also to lead the team into what could be a title-contending period.
Russell acknowledged the situation has been “conflicting” at times, but his determination to stay with Mercedes appears undimmed. And if Brundle’s reading is correct, Russell’s next contract may reflect not just loyalty – but leverage.
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