George Russell curiously spent the summer time break holidaying in Sardinia, the identical island the place Mercedes Method 1 staff principal Toto Wolff was reportedly assembly Purple Bull rival Max Verstappen.
The alleged assembly between Wolff and Verstappen occurred on a yacht within the Mediterranean final month, shortly after Christian Horner’s departure as Purple Bull staff principal.
The alleged assembly sparked contemporary rumours in regards to the four-time world champion breaking his contract with Purple Bull to hitch Mercedes subsequent 12 months and triggering a significant silly-season driver shuffle.
On the time, Wolff acknowledged he and Verstappen had been in Sardinia on the similar time however stopped wanting confirming they had been holidaying collectively.
“What’s new is that persons are doing picture collages with aeroplanes! We’ve by no means had that earlier than,” Wolff stated at the moment.
“However for those who spend your holidays shut to one another, it doesn’t imply that you’re going to work collectively in Method 1.
“We have now at all times gotten alongside properly and, by probability, we wish to spend our holidays on the similar locations.”
Sardinia the vacation of option to land a Mercedes F1 contract?
In the end, Verstappen dedicated to Purple Bull for the 2026 season after the three-weekend summer time break, ending any short-term doubts about his future.
Now, lower than a month later, Russell has visited the identical island for his personal mid-season trip. Posting photos along with his associate Carmen Montero Mundt on Instagram, he wrote: “Lacking racing, having fun with holidays.”
He returned to Monaco on Monday with one other publish: “Holidays over. Again on the grind.”
George Russell
If Mercedes had managed to lure Verstappen away from Purple Bull, both Russell or rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli would have been on the chopping block for 2026.
Regardless of a powerful season that features a Canadian Grand Prix win, Russell has but to be provided a contract for F1’s new period beginning subsequent 12 months.
When hypothesis about Verstappen’s potential Mercedes swap was at its peak, Russell insisted his seat was secure, saying any modifications would come on the opposite facet of the storage.
Wolff has since indicated that each Russell and Antonelli are anticipated to stay with Mercedes in 2026, although it is unclear when a deal could possibly be reached.
After claiming a podium final trip on the F1 Hungarian Grand Prix, Russell insisted that his precedence was a vacation – not speeding into signing a Mercedes contract.
“Truthfully, I simply need to have a relaxation, recharge, come again stronger,” he stated.
“There isn’t any time strain both approach. It’ll occur when it occurs. It’s ‘when’ not ‘if’.
“I’m 27 now, I’ve been with the staff for 4 years, subsequent 12 months could be my fifth.
“We need to construct the connection collectively nevertheless it’s bought to be proper.
“I don’t need to rush it, I’ve waited 12 months so I received’t rush it over two weeks.”
