George Russell believes he “won’t be going anywhere” and is set to have a new contract confirmed with Mercedes as he played down suggestionsthat he could lose his seatto Max Verstappen.
Before this weekend’s British Grand Prix Russell, whose contract with Mercedes has yet to be renewed, stated he felt the chances for him not being with the team next season were “exceptionally low”. Verstappen, in turn, flatly refused to comment on the matter.
The speculation came on a day when there was more flux at the top of the sport as a challenge emerged to the authority of the president of the FIA, Mohammed ben Sulayem, with the news that the former FIA steward Tim Mayer will stand against the president in elections later this year.
On Wednesday there were unconfirmed reports that Verstappen’s talks with Mercedes have intensified and that a deal was close to being confirmed. However it is understood this remains entirely speculation and that Mercedes are still conducting consideration of advances made toward them from the Verstappen camp.
Russell was considered the more likely candidate to lose his seat over teammate Kimi Antonelli were a deal to be done with Verstappen but at Silverstone he was bullish that he felt his position was safe.
“I’ve been focused on my side, I am loyal to Mercedes, so at the end of the day, everything will work itself out,” he said. “And the likelihood I’m not at Mercedes next year, I think is exceptionally low.
“For me it’s nothing to worry about as I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere and whoever my teammate is doesn’t concern me either, so I’ll just focus on the driving. There’s a lot of conversations behind the scenes that are not public and I know where their [Mercedes] loyalty lies. I’m performing better than ever, it’s as simple as that, performance speaks for everything.”
Mercedes are unlikely to announce any decision until the summer break after the Hungarian GP on 3 August, which is the point when potential exit clauses in Verstappen’s contract would become applicable. Verstappen did not deny the talks were taking place but declined to make any further comment.
It also became clear on Thursday at Silverstone that Mayer will announce his candidacy to oppose Ben Sulayem for the FIA presidency on Friday morning in a press conference.
The 59-year-old American had been a long serving FIA steward, well-liked and respecteduntil he was sackedby the FIA last November after a dispute between the FIA and the organisers of the US GP, for whom Mayer was working in an independent capacity.
Afterwards Mayer claimed the dismissal had taken place because Ben Sulayem had personally taken umbrage at him and he was highly critical of how it had been handled.
“In spite of the matter being resolved quietly and amicably, he’s still upset and decided to fire me,” he said. “After 15 years of volunteering my time as a steward, a decade teaching other stewards and hundreds of hours volunteering in other roles, I got a text from one of his assistants.”
The FIA denied he had been told by text message.
Mayer, the son of McLaren co-founder Teddy Mayer, has enjoyed senior roles in Champ Car, Imsa and the American Le Mans Series and was a chair of the stewards for the FIA, including 15 years stewarding in F1.
His standing presents a credible threat to Ben Sulayem’s position, with the Emirati having overseen four years of highly controversial governance at the FIA and who has already announced he intended to stand for re-election which will take place on 12 December.
It is understood Mayer has already has the requisite selection of senior figures who would join him in key positions, which is required by any candidate and now faces the serious task of winning support from the motor sport associations that will decide the vote in December.