George Russell told to leave Mercedes and join F1 rivals as contract 'problem' explained

George Russell has been told to ditch Mercedes for Aston Martin by Juan Pablo Montoya. The F1 icon fears that the British racer will only receive a one-year contract extension from Toto Wolff, and that he should look elsewhere in a bid to get back at his team principal. Russell's 2025 campaign has been a curious case. The Brit has enjoyed an extension of the exceptional form he demonstrated after the summer break in 2024.

Heading into the final 10 races, he is just 15 points behind Max Verstappen in the Drivers' Championship standings. The 27-year-old is one of just four drivers to celebrate a Grand Prix victory in 2025, and his further five podium finishes mean that he has scored 172 of Mercedes' 236 points. Despite establishing himself as a team leader for the present and future, he remains without a contract beyond the end of the year.

"I think the problem is, George is only going to get a one-year deal," seven-time F1 Grand Prix winner Montoya explained to CoinPoker. And I think Antonelli is going to get a one-year deal.

"If I was George and I had a good opportunity somewhere else, I would go. If Aston [Martin] came today to George and offered him a seat for next year, I would take it; he should take it. And then let Mercedes realise what they have lost and figure out what they did next."

Russell is currently wrapped up in contract negotiations with Wolff and his Mercedes colleagues. The Austrian had been holding out in the hopes of scoring Verstappen's signature, but the four-time world champion has since committed his immediate future to Red Bull, ending the public pursuit.

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A new deal at Mercedes is only a matter of time for the Brit, but after a stressful handful of months performing in the shadow of the Verstappen links, Russell is in no rush to push the contract over the line before the summer break concludes.

"I mean, it's something we need to think about," he said in Hungary when asked about the length of his expected new deal. "What is in the interest of both parties, really? What do I want from this? As much as what do Mercedes want?

"There has been, obviously, a bit of a unique situation we found ourselves in over these last six months. The fact is, from my side, I want to win. That is the only thing I care about, more than money, more than the number of days I lose sponsorship, more than anything, I want to win, and that, for me, is the most important thing about my future."