George Russell has revealed a relatively extravagant request in his Mercedes System 1 contract negotiations.
The British driver secured a contract extension with the Brackley outfit in direction of the top of the 2025 season, which can see him proceed with the crew alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli in 2026.
The 27-year-old is eager to begin including F1 automobiles to his private assortment, which options his “dream automotive” Mercedes-AMG One, so you may’t blame him for making an attempt to get this integrated into his new contract.
“I’d love to gather my very own System 1 automobiles,” Russell mentioned, in line with Auto Motor und Sport. “However due to the associated fee cap, we solely produce three or 4 monocoques per 12 months. 20 years in the past, when limitless testing was nonetheless allowed, every crew constructed 15 to twenty chassis. These have been then rotated often.”
Sadly for the Mercedes driver, his efforts have been unsuccessful.
“I attempted to get a System 1 automotive throughout my final contract negotiations. However sadly, I wasn’t profitable.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Photographs
“I wish to see the groups discover a solution to produce monocoques outdoors of the funds cap,” he added. “We have now sufficient of the opposite elements. Every driver has 5 engines per 12 months.
“I believe Mercedes produces a complete of 60 engines for every season. We even have loads of rear wings – for top, medium, and low downforce. There are additionally sufficient entrance wings and underbodies. We have now no less than ten units of all the opposite elements. However there are solely three or 4 monocoques. Possibly I ought to discuss to the FIA about that.”
Russell completed the 2025 F1 season fourth within the drivers’ standings behind championship winner Lando Norris and rivals Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. With the brand new rules coming in 2026, Russell will probably be hoping to profit from the reset.
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