George Russell spent his summer season break questioning about his summer season break in Sardinia, the identical island the place Mercedes Components 1 Workforce Principal Totowolf reportedly met Crimson Bull rival Max Verstappen.
The fees for the assembly between Wolff and Verstappen occurred on a Mediterranean yacht final month shortly after Christian Horner left as principal of the Crimson Bull crew.
The suspects’ assembly sparked recent rumours that the four-time world champion, who joined Mercedes subsequent 12 months to interrupt his contract with Crimson Bull, inflicting a significant silly season driver shuffle, had damaged his contract with Crimson Bull.
On the time, Wolf admitted that he and Verstappen had been in Sardinia on the identical time, however stopped ensuring they had been on trip collectively.
“The brand new factor is individuals are doing planes and picture collages! We have by no means had that earlier than,” Wolf stated on the time.
“However for those who spend your holidays shut to one another, that does not imply you are going to work collectively in Components 1.
“We have all the time been doing effectively and by probability we need to spend our holidays in the identical place.”
Alternative vacation to win a Sardinian Mercedes F1 contract?
In the end, Verstappen dedicated to Crimson Bull for the 2026 season after three weeks of summer season trip, ending his short-term doubts about his future.
Now, lower than a month has handed, Russell visited the identical island for his midseason vacation. When he posted a photograph on Instagram together with his associate Carmen Montero Mundt, he wrote: “There are not any races and I take pleasure in my holidays. ”
He returned to Monaco on Monday in one other put up: “Vacation. Again to Grind.”

George Russell
If Mercedes might have invited Verstappen from Crimson Bull, both Russell or rookie teammate Kimi Antoneri would have been on the chopping block in 2026.
Regardless of a robust season, together with a Canadian Grand Prix victory, Russell has but to supply a brand new period contract for Components 1 from subsequent 12 months.
When hypothesis about Verstappen’s potential Mercedes change peaked, Russell claimed that his seat was secure, saying {that a} change would happen on the opposite facet of the storage.
Wolf has proven that each Russell and Antonelli are anticipated to stay at Mercedes in 2026, however it’s unknown that they may attain the deal.
After profitable the final podium on the F1 Hungary Grand Prix, Russell insisted that his precedence is a vacation – not speeding to signal a Mercedes contract.
“To be trustworthy, I simply need to relaxation, recharge and get again sturdy,” he stated.
“There isn’t any time stress on both facet. It occurs when it occurs. That is when it isn’t “if.”
“I am 27. I have been a crew for 4 years. Subsequent 12 months can be my fifth 12 months.
“We need to construct a relationship collectively, however it must be proper.
“I do not need to hurry up with it, I have been ready 12 months, so I will not rush it over two weeks.”