09/08/2025 07:25
Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes George
Russell deserves a new multi-year contract from Mercedes, joking he
should he handed a "contract for life". Both Russell and Kimi
Antonelli remain without a contract for next season, although it is
expected that the Silver Arrows will hand the duo new deals.
Following a stellar podium in the Hungarian Grand Prix, Russell
revealed it was a matter of "when not if" he signs a contract
extension, with Toto Wolff also insisting it will happen. However,
Russell recently went through a period of uncertainty surrounding
his Mercedes future, following conversations between Wolff and Max
Verstappen. It was Russell who ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix
confirmed the Mercedes team principal was speaking to Verstappen,
before the Dutchman committed his immediate future to Red Bull.
Russell has enjoyed a strong campaign so far and has smoothly
become the leader of the Brackley-based outfit, following the exit
of Lewis Hamilton to Ferrari. With six podiums this year, only the
McLaren drivers have featured in the top three more than Russell,
highlighting the level fo his current performances. Asked by a fan
on the Red Flags podcast if Russell deserves a multi-year contract
extension, Steiner answered: "He deserves that. He's doing a good
job, he's leading the team, he knows everything, he knows what
Ferrari did [in Hungary], he knows what the engineer should be
doing. "I think he should have a contract for life, in my opinion,
and they cannot get out of it. No, without joking, I think he
should get an extension. He's doing a good job. "And if they want
to win a world championship at the moment, they need George there,
because Kimi is not delivering as they anticipated. I think
obviously Kimi's in the first year, I can see that. "But in the
moment, if they want to win a world championship with Kimi and even
Max Verstappen, you're not going to win it. You need two good
drivers, and George is a good driver, doing a good job."
