George Russell makes ‘tighter’ Toto Wolff comment as he opens up on £30m Mercedes deal | F1 | Sport
George Russell thinks team principal Toto Wolff ‘could have been substantially tighter’ while negotiating his new Mercedes contract. The Norfolk-born racer will earn around £30million per season after penning a multi-year extension with the Silver Arrows ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
Russell’s contract talks have been a running theme throughout the 2025 season. It is not uncommon for Wolff and Mercedes to leave it late, as was showcased with Lewis Hamilton’s contract extension after the 2021 campaign.
However, with Max Verstappen already off the market after the Hungarian Grand Prix, fans and pundits alike were confused by the lengthy delay in agreeing new deals for Russell and team-mate Kimi Antonelli. The wait ended ahead of the United States GP, though, when Mercedes confirmed new contracts for both drivers.
“I’m really happy to be continuing,” Russell said in Austin. “The truth is, if every single seat was available for next year and I could choose any single team to race for, I believe Mercedes is my best chance of winning the championship next year.
“For me, it’s more about winning than it is about money or sponsor days or anything. I want to win, and this is what I’m fighting for, so that is the long and short of it. I think it always just comes down to performance, I think, for any driver.
“At least for myself, what allows me to sleep well at night is knowing that my performances are strong, and that is what will keep you in the sport as any driver. Our intention and my goal is to continue with Mercedes indefinitely, and we’re here to focus on winning in 2026.”
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Russell was then asked about the terms of the deal. While Mercedes opted against sharing the details of the agreement, Express Sport understands that the 27-year-old is on a multi-year contract and will earn in the region of £30m per season. Before the announcement, it was reported that Russell was keen to reduce his sponsorship obligations as part of negotiations for his new contract.
“I’m very happy, to be honest, because given the situation and circumstances with me and the team, Toto could have been substantially tighter if he wanted to be,” the Brit continued.
“But I think he really recognises that you need to reward those who are delivering, who are putting in the effort and delivering those results on track. That’s why I’m sort of here with a smile on my face because I’m very happy with the offer. That’s the bonus, but the main goal for me is a fast race car.”
