Former Haas Formula 1 team principal Guenther Steiner believes George Russell has more leverage over Mercedes in the ongoing contract negotiations for a 2026 seat.

The British driver, who has been with the Mercedes F1 team since 2022 and a Mercedes junior driver since 2017, is yet to secure a 2026 contract with the Brackley outfit despite securing two grand prix wins so far this year in Canada and Singapore and leading the team with rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the seat on the other side of the garage.

While at this stage it looks as though the contract is a formality, with both Russell and team chief Toto Wolff remaining confident that they will reach an agreement shortly, Steiner has pinpointed what he believes could be the sticking points in the negotiations.

"He will get on

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