George Russell’s camp may now be fuelling ‘rumours’ to force Mercedes to do one thing

George Russell furthered his status as Mercedes’ team leader since Lewis Hamilton defected to Ferrari by winning the 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix from pole position.

The 27-year-old has claimed the captaincy of the Silver Arrows’ ship this season in his fourth campaign in Brackley. Russell is also enjoying the best start to an F1 season of his career this term, with the Mercedes star scoring 136 points during the first 10 rounds of the campaign.

Russell even has 68% of Mercedes’ 199 points so far this term to sit fourth in the F1 drivers’ championship, plus second only to runaway leaders McLaren in the constructors’ standings. Also, Russell’s Canadian GP win from pole marked his fifth podium of the campaign thus far.

George Russell is using Aston Martin’s interest to force Mercedes in their contract talks

Yet despite Russell leading Mercedes alongside rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli since Hamilton left for Ferrari this season, team principal Toto Wolff is still to give the Briton a new contract. Russell’s £12m a year before bonuses Mercedes contract is due to expire at the end of 2025.

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He last put pen to paper back in August 2023, so rumours have arisen that Aston Martin are very interested in signing Russell. The Silverstone team are said to see the King’s Lynn native as one of their top targets for the 2026 F1 season, as well as Red Bull racer Max Verstappen.

But MARCA notes that the current Aston Martin line-up of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll ‘seems completely untouchable’, as both are under contract in 2026. So, reports that Russell may join Aston Martin arose to ‘move the ball’ in his favour in his negotiations at Mercedes.

George Russell has told rival F1 teams he wants to stay at Mercedes in 2026

Should the suggestions that Russell is using Aston Martin’s interest to force Mercedes to put a new contract on the table be true, it is likely that his camp is fuelling the speculation. He has shown Mercedes that he can be their team leader, but is still to finalise a new contract.

It was said earlier this year that Russell is expected to sign a new £46m two-year contract at Mercedes. But the Briton’s pen is still yet to touch paper, despite Russell almost carrying the Silver Arrows with his results and his clear objective to remain in Brackley beyond this term.

Those close to Russell feel he is focused on signing a new Mercedes contract, and he also emphasised that point after winning last Sunday’s Canadian GP from pole. Russell confirmed he told rival teams that his ‘intentions’ are to stay at Mercedes, having drawn wider interest.

Additionally, team principal Wolff’s comments in Canada have drawn claims that Russell will sign his new Mercedes contract in the summer. Wolff will know that he cannot leave his star on the F1 driver market for too long or risk these rumours becoming more than speculation.