George Russell has been in sensational form for Mercedes in 2025, but is out of contract at the end of the year as Toto Wolff looks to lure Max Verstappen away from Red Bull

Mercedes have been heavily linked with a move for Max Verstappen, who could find a way out of his Red Bull contract, with Toto Wolff's superior green lighting the move

This leaves him just 18 points behind four-time world champion Verstappen in the standings. Despite this, however, Russell remains out of contract at the end of the year. This is due to ongoing contract talks with Verstappen, who Wolff believes he can lure away from rivals Red Bull amid long-running behind-the-scenes turmoil in Milton Keynes.