Doubt around George Russell’s Formula 1 future continues to grow as the season progresses, with the Brit yet to sign a deal for 2026.
The 27-year-old’s current Mercedes deal expires at the end of the campaign, with the team currently having no drivers under contract beyond the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Russell could join Red Bull which would be an incredible story, ending an eight-year partnership with his current team.
His next move is a crucial one, with the 2026 F1 regulations set to shake the grid up and completely change the running order of the field.
In other words, success is no guarantee with any team for Russell, including Mercedes. He’s probably always slightly better off at a factory team, though.
Mercedes have decided Russell is ‘secondary’ in the race for a seat against Max Verstappen this year, which is harsh considering how well he has performed.
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George Russell’s ‘preferred option’ for 2026 F1 seat is Mercedes
Still a dark horse candidate for the drivers’ championship this season, Russell is almost at the peak of his powers after humiliating Lewis Hamilton in qualifying during their time as teammates last year.
The problem is that there isn’t one Formula 1 team that would refuse the opportunity to sign the current reigning champion. He’s just that good.
Russell struggled massively at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and it was the first sign that the Silver Arrows’ may not be as strong as they would hope at every circuit this year.
With silly season around the corner and discussions for 2026 ahead, The Race’s Jon Noble believes that Russell would prefer to stay where he is for the future.
“I think his priority is to stay at Mercedes, it’s a team he has grown up with. They’ve guided his career, they loaned him to Williams, they’ve taken him into Mercedes,” he said.
“They’ve made him an F1 winner, they can potentially make him a world champion. There’s no doubts that he wants to stay at Mercedes, it’s his preferred option. He’s a competitive Formula 1 driver and he wants to race in the best seat he can have available.”
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Why George Russell might be McLaren’s closest competitor for the 2025 F1 title
Red Bull have done ‘one of the worst things’ by ignoring the feedback of their drivers and now their car is suffering. They have fallen behind.
It means that at some races, Verstappen is reduced to competing for the lower end of the top 10. Mercedes are far more consistent.
That means Russell could actually be both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s closest competitor over the course of an entire season.
He is yet to finish lower than fifth in five races, and they appear to have brought a more rounded car to events this year.
If frustration grows over their lack of performance, it may be Russell’s performances then end up convincing Verstappen of a move away from his current team.
