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The market for Formula 1 drivers is starting earlier and earlier. This was obvious last season, and this year the first move came even before the first race. George Russell is one of the drivers whose contract expires at the end of this season, and the so-called "Silly Season" has already focused attention on him. However, everything is happening too fast for the British driver.
The 2024 season hasn't even started yet, and Ferrari has already announced the arrival of Lewis Hamilton. The move left Carlos Sainz looking for a new seat from the start of the season. It also opened the door for other early signings and contract extensions, such as Fernando Alonso with Aston Martin. To that should be added the fact that the trend is to conclude multi-year contracts that extend over a longer period of time.
This year, the first move was the extension of Oscar Piastri's contract with McLaren, which came just before the Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the season. No one else has officially made a move yet, but rumours are already a constant in the paddock, although many drivers already have contracts that run until 2026.
Among the main players in this year's "Silly Season" is George Russell. The Briton's contract at Mercedes expires at the end of 2025 and he must decide on his future. A few weeks ago, British media reported that his contract extension with the "Silver Arrows" was at an advanced stage and that it was only a matter of time before it was officially confirmed. However, a few days ago, information emerged that Russell had spoken to Red Bull about the possibility of replacing Max Verstappen if the Dutchman decided to terminate his contract early.
Future
Russell refused to speak publicly about his future or the status of the talks, but expressed dissatisfaction with the speed at which the driver market is moving today. “When Lewis was here, contracts weren’t discussed until June or July. It was always summer. It’s unusual these days to see how many drivers are signing so early and on long-term contracts,” the Mercedes driver told The Athletic.
“I feel like the drivers who are so obsessed with securing their future are perhaps the ones who don’t have a lot of confidence and feel the need for security,” he added.
“The reality is that if you have a contract and you’re not delivering, the team will find a way to get rid of you. Performance is our only currency. If you’re delivering, everything else will follow.”
“When people are unhappy, they want change, so we’ll see next year. I think we’re in for an interesting summer,” Russell concluded.
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