Nico Rosberg has prompt talks with Max Verstappen may very well be behind the delay in Mercedes handing George Russell a brand new F1 contract.
Regardless of having fun with a powerful begin to the 2025 F1 season by which he has taken one victory and sits fourth on the planet championship, Russell stays and not using a contract for subsequent yr.
Russell is predicted to signal an extension with Mercedes however the longer he stays a free agent, the hearsay mill will solely intensify, with the Briton not too long ago linked with Aston Martin.
Verstappen is known to have an exit clause that might turn into energetic firstly of the summer time break, although the four-time world champion has repeatedly indicated that he has no need to depart Crimson Bull.
Mercedes have a long-standing curiosity in Verstappen, having courted him final yr as they looked for a substitute for Lewis Hamilton, although Toto Wolff has since distanced the Silver Arrows from a transfer for the Dutchman.
However 2016 world champion and former Mercedes driver Rosberg suspects the Brackley-based squad may very well be chatting to Verstappen “within the background”.
“Crimson Bull just isn’t silly,” Rosberg mentioned on Sky Deutschland. “They paid Max a fortune and signed him for a number of years. I don’t assume he can simply run away.
“However you possibly can’t drive him to remain. If he needs to depart, it’s a must to settle for it sooner or later. Alternatively, there may be additionally the George Russell scenario at Mercedes.
“There’s some delay in it, as a result of Toto Wolff ought to really signal him now. That is his primary driver, his efficiency this season is mega once more.
“Perhaps there are some talks within the background with the Verstappen facet.”
Canada win has no impact on new Mercedes deal
Wolff mentioned that Russell’s win final trip in Canada wouldn’t affect discussions over a brand new deal.
He additionally hinted that Mercedes have a “timeline” for getting a brand new contract over the road with Russell.
“He is been so lengthy with us and he is rising – the steps he is constructed from that younger driver in Williams, then coming to Mercedes at a tough time, being on par with Lewis [Hamilton], after which since Lewis left being clearly the senior driver within the crew, and it comes pure,” Wolff defined.
“It isn’t like there’s some politics. He is simply taken the place that he deserves and deserves. The atmosphere within the crew is nice, and we have agreed on some type of timeline once we wish to settle these items.
“With triple headers getting out of the best way in a single race after the opposite now in June and July… however we’ll get there. He is been a Mercedes junior in the identical means that Kimi was since he was 16, so it is not depending on whether or not he wins a race, whether or not he performs, as a result of we all know he can.”
In the meantime, Russell mentioned: “I am not involved in any respect about subsequent yr. I do know I will be on the grid subsequent yr. I really feel in a very good place. We’re in no rush to do contract negotiations. We wish to win collectively.
“I am not speaking with anyone else and any groups who’ve proven curiosity, I’ve been fairly open to say my intentions are to stick with Mercedes.
“That is all the time been clear. And I’m loyal to Mercedes. They gave me this opportunity to get into System 1.”
