George Russell wants to see a new contract offer from Mercedes, who he has suggested are in talks with Max Verstappen.

However, Russell is not overly concerned about his place on the team, despite having only a year to run on his current deal.

Lewis Hamilton's departure last year paved the way for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to look into the possibility of luring four-time Formula One champion Verstappen away from Red Bull.

Verstappen stayed put, and Wolff said he was happy with the options of Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

Russell sits fourth in the 2025 drivers' standings, 21 points back from Verstappen, following his victory in Montreal last time out.

But Russell believes talks between Mercedes and Verstappen are delaying the team offering him a new contract.

"From my side, I don't think I have anything really to worry about. I think, as a team, it depends where you put your aspirations," he told Sky Sports F1 ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.

"We're second best at the moment, maybe third best. We might be overperforming slightly to be second best.

"As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and if you're going to be back on top, you need to make sure you've got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that's what Mercedes are chasing.

"So, it's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula One team."

A week break and we're back in business in Austria pic.twitter.com/8qR6aVpPy8

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) June 26, 2025

Asked whether he will be driving for Red Bull in 2026, Verstappen said: "I've had that question before as well in my life. I don't think we need to talk about that. You want me to repeat what I said last year?

"Again, it's not really in my mind. I'm just driving, trying to push the performance, and then we focus on next year."

While speculation over the futures of him and Verstappen may now grow, Russell reiterated his satisfaction with his performance so far this season.

"Toto has made it clear to me that he thinks how I'm performing this year is as good as anybody," Russell said.

"I think there's only one driver that you can debate in terms of performance – these are his words, these are not my words – so that's why I have no concern about the future.

"But there's two seats at every team and I guess he needs to think, 'who are those two drivers going to be for those two seats?' I guess that's what the delay is.

 "For sure, I want to be in the seat that's going to give me the best chance to win, and ultimately, nothing would make me happier than winning with Mercedes because they're the ones that helped me get my opportunity and I've built such a relationship with everybody in this team.

"But right now, there's only one thing for me to focus on and that's driving fast. If you're driving quick, there's nothing to worry about. And if you're not, that's when people start talking.

"It's not something that I'm pressing massively because, as I've always said, the performance is the priority, and I feel with the performance I'm showing at the moment - still in line with the performance I've shown over all these years – I've got zero reasons to be worried.

"But obviously, it does help if there was pen on paper. But let's see."

Mercedes sit second in the constructors' championship heading into the weekend, though they trail leaders McLaren by 175 points.