Russell’s contract is set to expire at the end of the year, yet he is optimistic about continuing with the team. He acknowledges that the chances of winning the title this year are slim, needing Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to make substantial mistakes and lose points for others to enter the competition.
Norris and Piastri had a collision in Montreal, resulting in Norris’s retirement from the race, which allowed Piastri to gain a 22-point lead over his teammate in the standings. Russell is currently in fourth place, trailing Piastri by 62 points, with Max Verstappen in third.
“I’m not quite sure how Max and I are so close to those two (McLaren drivers) because they clearly have the most dominant car,” Russell commented.
“Both of us have been very consistent, maximizing our performance week after week. However, I can’t see McLaren continuing to drop points as they have been.”
“Naturally, we hope that trend persists, but I don’t foresee us joining the championship battle purely based on pace as Lando did last year. We could only be in contention if results like today persist or similar circumstances occur.”
Russell is confident that the outcome in Canada will aid negotiations for a new deal. He mentioned that despite rumors about Mercedes pursuing Verstappen for 2026, he has no concerns.
“I know I’ll be on the grid next year. I feel like I’m driving better than ever and still have more potential,” the Briton said. “I’m ready to compete for a world championship.”
He clarified that he is not in discussions with any team other than Mercedes and is not in a hurry to secure a new contract.
“There haven’t been any hard feelings regarding the ongoing talks, particularly about Max,” he added.
“If every driver were a free agent for next year, Max would be the top choice for every team. That’s understandable. But ultimately, there are only two seats available for each race team.
“I’m confident that if I continue to perform well, my position is not going to be in jeopardy. So, I feel good about where I stand.”
To date, Russell has achieved four race wins and 20 podium finishes in his Formula 1 career. He has been part of the Mercedes junior team since 2017 and briefly raced for Williams in 2021 before taking over Valtteri Bottas’s seat the following year. The 27-year-old has now stepped into a senior driver role following Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari.
