Toto Wolff explains how George Russell’s contract extension at Mercedes ‘has long been done’. However, the Silver Arrows have not yet officially announced the extension of the Brit’s contract. According to Wolff, there is actually not much ‘extra’ to say about it. He also once again addresses the Max Verstappen rumors: “I always find it funny what people get worked up about.”
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George Russell is in his fifth season as a Mercedes driver. However, the Brit is losing out to his younger teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the internal title fight. The contract of the older Mercedes driver also officially expires at the end of the season, which has raised questions about his future with the Silver Arrows.
According to team principal Toto Wolff, the Brit does not need to worry. The Austrian reveals to OE24 that his contract extension has long been finalized. “That has long been done,” Wolff says when asked about the official announcement of the extension. “We just haven’t made a big statement. There really isn’t anything extra to say about it.”
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‘Only had a chat with Max’
Wolff’s statements are striking because until the summer there were still rumors that Mercedes wanted to recruit Max Verstappen. These rumors were fueled by photos that surfaced of Verstappen and Wolff on vacation in Sardinia.
“That was completely unintentional. In the age of social media, you can’t hide anymore, and we don’t want to,” Wolff says about the photos. “We splashed in the water and meanwhile had a chat. But it feels like there’s always someone swimming next to you with their phone, taking a photo and posting it online. I always find it funny what people get worked up about.”
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