Toto Wolff picks between George Russell and Max Verstappen amid Mercedes talks with latter

Toto Wolff has confirmed that Mercedes remain in talks with Max Verstappen over a potential switch from Red Bull. But the Austrian insists that George Russell remains the man most likely to race for his team in 2026 and that talks with Verstappen will not delay a new contract for the Brit.

Russell's current deal expires at the end of this year and, so far, there has been little movement on that front. Wolff insists that was always the plan, but his team's continuous pursuit of Verstappen has raised speculation that the Brit could be shown the door.

Russell was calm about the situation this week when he said that "conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing" for his team. And Wolff confirmed that to be true on Friday, but made it clear that a switch ahead of 2026 remains unlikely.

He said: "There is no delay in George's contract negotiations because it has been clear for a long time what our timings were and we've known each other for such a long time, so there is no such thing as a delay.

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"But as a team principal for the best car brand in the world, it is clear that you're exploring what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future. That could be long into the future, but it has no effect on putting our signature on George's contract."

Regard the nature of any conversations he has had with Verstappen about a potential future with Mercedes, Wolff added: "It's also a long-term perspective and to understand what the framework he is operating on, no more than this."

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And he was clear in his response when asked specifically by Sky Sports if he felt it was more likely that Mercedes will field Russell alongside teenager Kimi Antonelli, rather than Verstappen, in 2026. "Yes," was his immediate reply.

Russell appears unmoved about Mercedes keeping their options open and has, publicly at least, made it clear he feels his impressive form this season should be more than enough reason to be offered a contract extension. The Brit is fourth in the drivers' standings, just 19 points behind Verstappen in third having secured his first win of the year last time out in Montreal.

And Wolff feels he has taken the right approach by making the situation clear to his driver, rather than speaking with Verstappen behind the Brit's back. He said: "What we're trying to do in the team is be as transparent as we are. You can choose to keep things under wraps or, like we've done in the last 10, 12 years that I've been there, put it out there and say, 'This is the situation'.

"These drivers are clever people and they talk with each other, and I'm always open about these things, saying it how it is, and there is no such thing as saying we are signing Max. That is so far away that it is not realistic at this stage. With George, we talk about everything."