Mercedes has confirmed that George Russell will not take part in his scheduled media responsibilities on Thursday at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, citing health concerns.
The 27-year-old Briton has been one of the season’s most consistent performers, missing out on points in only one of the 15 races so far.
But with the high-intensity weekend in Baku ahead, Russell has opted to conserve his energy rather than fulfill his media obligations after feeling under the weather.
“Unfortunately, George won’t be at track today because he’s feeling unwell and resting up ahead of tomorrow’s track action,” the team announced in a post on X.
The development leaves the team's media obligations for the day to be handled exclusively by Kimi Antonelli, who steps up to represent the squad in front of the press.
Looking Ahead Amid Contract Speculation
Russell’s absence comes at a time of ongoing speculation about his long-term future with Mercedes.
While team principal Toto Wolff has publicly stated that Russell – and Antonelli – will remain with the squad next season, formal contract announcements have has yet to be made for both drivers.
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With the first on-track sessions set to begin Friday, Mercedes is confident Russell will be fit to take part in the weekend’s action.
His immediate target remains consolidating his fourth position in the championship while keeping pressure on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and narrowing the gap to Max Verstappen in third.
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