Nico Rosberg has suggested that interaction with Max Vastapane may be behind the delay in Mercedes who is handing over a new F1 contract to George Russell.
Despite enjoying an impressive beginning for 2025 F1 The season in which he has won a win and ranks fourth in the World Championship, Rasel Lives without a contract for the next year.
Expected to sign an extension with Russell Mercedes But now he remains a free agent, the rumor mill will only intensify, it is recently associated with Britain. Aston Martin,
Vastapane is understood as a exhaust segment that may be active at the beginning of summer breaks, although the four-time world champion has repeatedly indicated that there is no desire to leave it red Bull,
Mercedes He has long been interested in Vastapane, leaving him last year as he discovered a replacement for Lewis Hamilton, although Toto Wolf has since shifted the silver arrow away from a step for Dutchman.
But the 2016 world champion and former Mercedes driver Rosberg suspects that the Brackley-based squads may chat with Vastapain “in the background”.
“Red bull is not stupid,” Rosberg said on Sky Doussland. He said, “He paid a luck to Max and signed it for many years. I don’t think he could just run away.
“But you cannot force him to live. If he wants to leave, you have to accept it at some point. On the other hand, Mercedes also has George Russell’s position.
“There is some delay, as Toto Wolf should actually sign it now. It is his number one driver, his performance in this season is again mega.
“Maybe there is some conversation in the background with the Vestapen side.”
Canada Win has no effect on New Mercedes deal
Wolf said that Russell’s victory in Canada will not affect the discussion on a new deal.
He also indicated that Mercedes has a “timeline” to get a new contract on the line with Russell.
“He has become so long with us and he is growing – he has been taken steps from that young driver in Williams, then coming into Mercedes in a difficult time, has been at par with Lewis [Hamilton]And then Since Lewis clearly left the senior driver in the team, and it comes naturally, ”Volf explained.
“It’s not that there is some politics. He has only taken the place that he is qualified and worthy. The atmosphere in the team is great, and when we want to deal with these things, we agree on some kind of timeline.
“Triple header is going to reach there in June and July after getting out of a race after now. But he is a Mercedes Junior in the same way as Km was 16 years old, so it is not dependent on what he wins a race, what he performs, because we know that he can do.”
Meanwhile, Russell said: “I am not worried about the next year at all. I know that I am going on the grid next year. I feel in a good place. We are not hasty to hold contract talks. We want to win together.
“I am not talking to anyone else with any other team, who has shown interest, I am quite open to say that my intentions have to be with Mercedes.
“This has always been clear. And I am loyal to Mercedes. He gave me this opportunity to go to Formula 1.”
