George Russell makes stunning Max Verstappen Mercedes contract claim

George Russell believes the delay in signing a new contract with Mercedes could be due to the team still chasing Max Verstappen's signature. 

The Mercedes team leader is out of contract at the end of this season, with boss Toto Wolff signalling that it is a matter of 'when, not if, Russell agrees fresh terms to extend his stay with the Brackley team. 

However, Wolff is extremely keen to lure Verstappen from Red Bull, but his interest cooled at the start of this year, given the strong starts Russell and Kimi Antonelli have made, with Russell just 19 points behind the Red Bull driver heading into the Austrian GP. 

Verstappen has indicated that he could stay with Red Bull for 2026, in the first year of the new generation of rules, although his future remains in doubt beyond that, with his contract set to expire at the end of 2028. 

Verstappen is expected to see how Red Bull stacks up in F1's new era before making a decision and is likely to have command of any seat he wishes should he leave Red Bull.

As the wait for fresh terms with Mercedes goes on, Russell has explained how he thinks the delay is due to Verstappen being chased.

“From my side, I don't think I have anything really to worry about. I think, as a team, it depends where you put your aspirations,” Russell told Sky Sports F1.

"We're second best at the moment, maybe third best. We might be overperforming slightly to be second best.

“As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and if you're going to be back on top you need to make sure you've got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that's what Mercedes are chasing.

"So, it's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula 1 team."

Speaking further to wider media, Russell then claimed the delay in his fresh terms were to do with Verstappen. 

Toto has made it clear to me that he thinks how I'm performing this year is as good as anybody," Russell said.

"I think there's only one driver that you can debate in terms of performance - these are his words, these are not my words - so that's why I have no concern about the future.

"But there's two seats at every team and I guess he needs to think, who are those two drivers going to be for those two seats, and I guess that's what the delay is."

“Right now, there's only one thing for me to focus on and that's driving fast. If you're driving quick, there's nothing to worry about. And if you're not, that's when people start talking."