George Russell and Mercedes face tense contract negotiations as Toto Wolff proves a challenging counterpart in discussions.
Former 2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg has described Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff as “horrible to negotiate with” amid the prolonged contract discussions concerning George Russell. Russell’s current deal with Mercedes runs until the end of 2025, but no new agreement has been finalized, leaving his future with the team unclear as the 2024 season progresses.
Russell is widely expected to remain at Mercedes, especially after Helmut Marko confirmed that Max Verstappen will stay with Red Bull through 2026. According to reports from the Daily Mail, Russell is poised to secure a lucrative new contract worth approximately £30 million per year, which would keep him with Mercedes until 2027.
Rosberg explains the challenges of negotiating with Toto Wolff
Reflecting on his own experience racing for Mercedes between 2010 and 2016, Rosberg shared insight into why Toto Wolff can be difficult in contract negotiations. During Sky Sports’ coverage at the Belgian Grand Prix, Rosberg commented on Russell’s own remarks about the contract timeline, noting that Russell seemed quite certain there would be no deal signed before the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“Like, so definitive that he knows nothing’s gonna happen until Hungary, so there must be something cooking there, right?”
Rosberg pointed out that with the season nearing its final stages, delaying contract talks feels extreme.
He further described Toto Wolff’s negotiation style:
Image of: George Russell
“Toto’s horrible to negotiate with, because his tactic is to disappear. So when you try… like George now, he’s trying to get hold of him, Toto will disappear…”
He elaborated on this reputation, saying,
“But I remember from my time that was his style, just like disappearing, not answering, being hard to reach… and it’s horrible, because you’re like, ‘come on!’”
Mercedes expects clarity around Russell’s future following summer break
The timing of contract announcements in Formula 1 often coincides with the summer break, which makes it likely any news regarding Russell will emerge after the Hungarian Grand Prix. Historically, August has been the period when driver deals become public, as seen with Carlos Sainz’s move to Williams announced in early August 2024.
Toto Wolff expressed cautious optimism about Russell’s state of mind during this uncertain time, telling Sky Sports F1:
“As a driver, he’s so mature and stable that I don’t think that makes any difference on performance,”
“On the contrary, I would wish to have him in a safe place a little bit earlier. We haven’t managed to do that but I’m optimistic that he’s going to sleep well over the summer break.”
— Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal
Implications for Mercedes and the 2024 F1 season
The protracted nature of George Russell Mercedes contract negotiations adds pressure on both the driver and the team in the final months of the 2024 season. While Russell’s future at Mercedes appears secure, the delay in formalizing his agreement could affect preparations and focus amid a tightly contested championship battle.
How the situation resolves after the summer break will be closely monitored by fans and stakeholders, as it could shape Mercedes’ planning and strategy well beyond 2024, especially with the competitive commitments involving other top drivers like Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
