George Russell has shared the small print of a contract clause in his Mercedes deal that ought to shield him from the specter of four-time Components 1 champion Max Verstappen.
The British driver lastly signed a contract extension with the Brackley outfit after months of negotiations. Russell’s future with the staff was underneath the highlight earlier within the season as staff chief Toto Wolff confirmed he had engaged in talks with Verstappen for a possible 2026 seat.
Whereas Wolff admitted that the chance of the Dutchman signing for subsequent yr was very low, he remained in no rush to signal the contract extensions for each Russell and his rookie team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Shortly after the hyperlinks with Mercedes, Verstappen reaffirmed his dedication to Crimson Bull for 2026 however left the door open for a possible exit from the Milton Keynes outfit sooner or later. As Russell secured the extension with Mercedes, questions nonetheless remained as as to if he might run into the identical menace subsequent yr.
However throughout an interview with The Telegraph, the 27-year-old has confirmed that his contract for 2027 can be robotically renewed if he reaches a goal agreed with Mercedes, leaving his future with the Wolff-led staff in his arms.
George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: David Buono – Icon Sportswire – Getty Photographs
“It’s one thing I have not really mentioned publicly, however the deal is, if I am performing [next year], we’ve got a selected clause that if I attain [a target], we’ll robotically renew for 2027,” Russell mentioned. “So my seat for 2027 is in my arms.
“So I am not being strung alongside right here. We’re not going to be in the identical place as we have been six months in the past. If I carry out, and I do not need to go into particulars, but when I carry out, then 100% I will be staying.”
He added, discussing the delays within the negotiations: “All the things works out for the perfect. I really needed to signal the deal again in October 2024 however the deal I received right now is considerably higher than what I’d have gotten had I signed it then. So yeah, generally I believe you simply need to belief in your means and I really feel I am solely getting stronger.”
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