Russell before change? Hamilton's departure and Antonelli as a future!

Russell before change? Hamilton's departure and Antonelli as a future!

In motorsport, there are currently noticeable changes, especially in the driver carousel of Formula 1. One of the most exciting developments concerns George Russell, whose contract expires at Mercedes at the end of the year. The 25-year-old has been driving for the silver arrows for four years and is considered one of the most promising drivers of the current Formula 1. Rumors about his future and possible changes have arisen in the past few weeks, especially after Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari, which the maps at Mercedes new. According to Derwesten are already speculations in circulation, because Max Verstappen Russell could replace, since the red-bull-pilot his car is dissatisfied.

George Russell itself is relaxed in terms of negotiations on a new contract. In a recent interview, he said that "nothing was safe" and that he does not feel any pressure to sign a connection contract immediately. He emphasizes that the right time for talks has not yet come and wants to wait and see how the current season and the car develop towards 2026. In addition, Russell is aiming for planning security for the next three to five years, such as Formel1.de

The situation at Mercedes

Mercedes faces a decisive phase of contract negotiations, not only for Russell, but also for the promising talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli, whose contract also expires at the end of 2025. Team boss Toto Wolff has indicated that he and Russell agree on a possible contract extension, but an official announcement is still pending. In the past, the brand has shown great need for action in relation to the driver change to strengthen its position in competition.

Current developments in the driver field show that many teams have already secured their cockpits for the 2026 season. Max Verstappen and Oscar Piatri are bound to their teams by 2028. The pressure on the teams of making contract decisions is growing steadily. The situation is also more complex by the upcoming change from Yuki Tsunoda, who will replace Liam Lawson at Red Bull Racing. The change will take place after only two races in the season and is expected to be officially announced soon, such as Kleine Zeitung reported.