By Saajan Jogia

Copyright newsweek

Mercedes AMG Formula One driver George Russell has been hurt by his team’s engagement with Max Verstappen in the race weekends leading up to the summer break. The claim has been made by former driver and Sky Sports F1 presenter Martin Brundle.Russell’s Mercedes contract extension was reportedly kept on hold as team principal Toto Wolff was in talks with Verstappen. However, given the four-time world champion’s Red Bull contract that lasts until the end of 2028, Verstappen ruled out a move to Mercedes next year.Wolff has since confirmed that his team was heading in the direction of signing Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the 2026 season. Notably, both their current contracts expire at the end of this year, and despite just eight races remaining for the 2025 season to conclude, Wolff has yet to put pen to paper.Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Brundle was discussing Russell with former champion and Sky F1 colleague Nico Rosberg. Brundle said:”He’s driving so beautifully. He really… he just looks the real deal, he’s confident. But he said ‘I went to Mercedes expecting to win world championships straight away, relatively straightforwardly’. And of course, that’s just not happening.”Rosberg responded:”I’ll agree with you, Martin, that for me, George is top three, at the very least, in terms of driver this year. Phenomenally consistent, so rapid, he is always extracting the maximum from that car, which is why it’s so hard for Antonelli, also, because he’s up against one of the very, very best out there, which doesn’t help.”Martin, question to you: Toto is gonna have to decide on Antonelli soon. Put pen to paper, sign him up for another year or not. If you were in Toto’s shoes, what would you do?”Brundle, however, continued talking about Russell, suggesting that he would not have waited for so long to sign a contract extension with the Briton. He also questioned if Russell was happy after his team’s talks with Verstappen, suggesting that he was “quite bruised” by the saga. The 66-year-old presenter said:”I’d take him. I would have signed George a long time ago, because George is not happy, is he?”It’s very easy to see that George feels quite bruised about all the Max talk and what have you through the summer.”But when you look at the calm of McLaren and other teams, I just think they’ve injected too many of their own problems into the driver lineup. I’d keep him.”