George Russell has insisted “there’s no rush” to sign a new Mercedes F1 deal even though his current contract expires at the end of 2025🔜.

Russell is out of contra🉐ct at the end of the season, and a new Mercedes deal has yet to be agreed upon.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has been adamant about keeping Russell alongside 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Kimi Antonelli for next year.

However, it’s ♊still a precariouജs position for the British driver.

Wolff and Mercedes have held long-term interest in 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen, who is under Red Bull contraඣct until the end of 20🔯28.

Mercedes were interested in signing Verstappen as their replacement for 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton.

Red Bu🥀ll’s decline in form could tempt Verstapp♓en to switch to Mercedes.

Another factor is that Merc♛edes are likely to start next year, when the new engine rules are introduced, with a very competitive🐭 power unit.

In t🍷he FIA press conference ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, Russell said there were “no concer𝓀ns” about having no new deal yet.

“From my side there’s no stress whatsoever regarding a contract,” Rꦐussell explained.

“Ultimately, contracts are in place in Formula 1. Things change very quickly. I believe in myself. You have to perform. It’s pretty much as si🐓mple as that.

“When it comes down to contract disc🌄ussions I think with us in the past with Toto it’s taken no🧸 more than 24 hours to have the conversation then it goes to the lawyers and we get something in place.

“There is no rush from my side. There’s no concerns. There’s no pressure. I am enjoying where I am at this sport right now and I am enjoying my perform�♐�ance. I am just enjoying going racing so that’s the number one priority right now.”

Mercedes pace in 2025 “quite refreshing”

Russell has enjoyed a strong start to 2⛎025, finishing on the podium in the opening two races.

He sits third in the F1 drivers’ championship standings, nine poi🍸nts behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Despite a s💧trong start, Russell is remaining “realistic”.

“The first two races have be🦩en great - two podiums - and we couldn’t have hoped for much more,” Russell added. “We have to be realistic. We’re only two races into a long season.

“I don’t🌳 think probably Ferrari and maybe Red Bull have maximised their potential as yet. We don’t want to get carried away that this is possible week in week out but we definitely know that if we do the best job to our own abilities we will be there in the mix.

“We know in qualifying we’ve always been strong🍸 but I think it was quite refreshing in China to see our race pace is also pretty decent and we were the second-fastest team in China.

“There was a lot of positives to take away. We go to Japan which was probably one of our worst races last year so it will quite an interesting test to s꧒ee if we can improve the car compared to this time 12 months ago.”🌠