‘It's a when not if’ – Russell offers Mercedes contract update after securing podium in Hungary

George Russell has confirmed it is a case of "when not if" he will sign a new contract keeping him at Mercedes for 2026 after weeks of speculation.

The Briton's future with the Silver Arrows has been one of the main talking points this season as rumours circulated that he could be replaced for next year by four-time World Champion, Max Verstappen.

Russell always maintained his future was with Mercedes, despite Team Principal Toto Wolff confirming that talks between himself and Verstappen had taken place.

At the Belgium Grand Prix, Wolff gave the clearest indiction yet that he would prefer to keep the current line-up of Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend Verstappen confirmed he would be staying at Red Bull.

Russell claimed his sixth podium of the campaign in Hungary, and post-race confirmed his future with Mercedes would be sorted in the coming weeks but that he was in no rush.

"He [Toto Wolff] has got nothing to be worried about, I've got nothing to be worried about," Russell told Sky Sports F1.

"Nothing is going to happen over the summer because I just want to have a rest and recharge and come back stronger for the second half of the year but there's no time pressure either way. It will happen when it happens, it's a when not if.

"I'm 27 now, I've been with the team four years, next year would be my fifth and we want to build the relationship together but it's got to be right and I don't want to rush it. I've been waiting 12 months, I'm not going to just rush it in the course of two weeks so we'll sit down when the time is right."

Russell finished third at the Hungaroring having held eventual race winner Lando Norris at bay in the early running before jumping on to the podium after a late pass on polesitter, Charles Leclerc.

While Russell admits that matching the McLarens over the remaining 10 races will be difficult, he believed Mercedes could be 'best of the rest'.

"I was quite happy to keep Lando at bay for the first stint," he said.

"Those guys are just doing an amazing job right now, they're head and shoulders above everyone, week in, week out, and I don't think that's going to change much in the second half of the year because everybody is focused on 2026. Our goal is best of the rest."