Mercedes F1

If you dismiss the hype train, then I absolutely agree that Kimi isn't having a bad season. The next two years will tell us how good he is. Oscar was hyped up too and didn't exactly have an incredible rookie season and look at him now.

 

Frankly he’s clearly delivering for a …17 years old teenager driving a 1000hp Mercedes formula one.
Just facts speaks for themselves

 

Mercedes keeps Russell for 2026.

It's a 1 year contract. Toto keeping his options open for 2027.

 

It doesn't look good for Mercedes to offer only a one year contact to their #1.
This is rather dismissive, and a blatant lack of trust, IMO.
Russell must now feel that the writting is on the wall as far as enjoying a long career with Mercedes.
If I believe the media, Toto is obsessed with poaching Verstappen from Red Bull, and at the same time keeping his protegé Antonelli. But there are many uncertainties ahead; perhaps it's not the most realistic approach to sacrifice Russell to follow that plan.

 

Mercedes did not confirm the length of Russell's contract but the new release spoke only of he and Antonelli continuing "into 2026".

 

It might be a 1+ option for year 2.

 

Indeed, Russell’s previous contract signing, which took place in 2023, committed him to a two-year extension for 2024 and 2025.

However, while Russell’s latest deal length was not explicitly announced, The Race understands that his new contract is a multi-year agreement that does indeed run into 2027.

 

If not Max then Charles.

 

Proposing a 1+1 deal to Russell doesn't show great confidence in him.
Other teams like McLaren, Ferrari, etc ... do better than that for their #1.

 

Right now; in the Daily Mirror:

George Russell has finally put pen to paper on a new Mercedes contract after months of delays. And it is understood the Brit, 27, has landed a multi-year extension worth around £30million per year as reward for his outstanding form this season.

It gives Russell the third-highest driver salary on the Formula 1 grid, behind only Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. It also gives him an extra layer of protection amid the ongoing threat posed by Verstappen, with the Silver Arrows still keeping a close eye on the four-time champion.


I wait for confirmation about this.

 

Toto - hedging like a fund manager.........that he is

 

Well done to George. He has moved up and provided a team leadership driver to the team. He has earned a multi year deal I would think.

 

Whatever multi year means (more than 2 ?).
But it's good that Russell has a contract anyway, and ripes the result of his effort.

 

We will see if the 2026 Mercedes Power unit is that good..
Russell could very well deliver strong results with a competitive car.

 

I count on it !
That means that McLaren, Williams and Alpine also would have no worries about their PUs.
The news aren't so reassuring at RBPT-Ford, Honda keeps quiet and there is uncertainty at AUDI.
Let's see what Ferrari and their satelites Haas and Cadillac will deliver.

 

Well rumors from Italy are very contractory about Ferrari future PU, which is never a good omen..

 

Some analysis on the new contract for Russell. Is it he who wants out if things are bad or is it Mercedes and its a bit of a lack of respect to Russell's efforts. No one really knows in F1 - the truth.

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/our-verdict-george-russell-new-mercedes-f1-deal-curious-omission/

 

--It's understood that while Antonelli remains on a rolling annual contract – prudent, given that he's still a work in progress – Russell is on a one-plus-one.--

Autosport

 

So erm, a 1 year contract then

 

Not really a great show of faith in Russell. He's a doosh, but a capable driver who deserves a better contract.

 

well, I totally agree. Don't much like him but indeed very capable driver.

If Merc makes an absolute rocket ship then they don't need Max...but they do want him: If Merc has Max that buys them a great amount of comfort of knowing he's not driving in another car....

 

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Constable George should be arrested

 

George Russell confirms clauses in contract, key to Mercedes F1 future

• Nate SaundersOct 27, 2025, 09:47 AM ET ESPN F1.com

George Russell has confirmed there are performance-related guarantees in his Mercedes contract to race in 2027 as well as next season, suggesting his seat is safe should boss Toto Wolff pursue Max Verstappen again.

After a long wait for a delay Mercedes confirmed Russell and current teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli for 2026, although details on contract lengths were not included in the announcement.

Russell's extension had been put on ice while Wolff openly courted Verstappen in the hope he could be lured away from Red Bull for next year.

Sources with knowledge of the deal have told ESPN that Russell's Mercedes deal is a one-plus-one deal, common in Formula 1, with clauses for a second season if certain circumstances are met.

Russell has confirmed that to be true in an extensive recent interview with The Telegraph.

"It is something I haven't actually said publicly, but the deal is, if I'm performing [next year], we have a specific clause that if I reach [a target], we will automatically renew for 2027," Russell said.

"So my seat for 2027 is in my hands.

"So I'm not being strung along here. We're not going to be in the same position as we were six months ago. If I perform, and I don't want to go into details, but if I perform, then 100 per cent I'll be staying."

The Englishman has won twice this year and admitted the wait for his deal to be finalized ended up being positive.

"Everything works out for the best," Russell added.

"I actually wanted to sign the deal back in October 2024 but the deal I got today is substantially better than what I would have got had I signed it then. So yeah, sometimes I think you just have to trust in your ability and I feel I'm only getting stronger."

Clauses in Verstappen's own deal had opened the door for Wolff to entertain that prospect in the first place. Sources familiar with Verstappen's deal told ESPN he could have left were he fourth or lower in the championship at the summer break - the Dutchman was third at the end of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

It is unclear whether similar escape clauses exist in the four-time world champion's contract for 2026 but it is likely there will be some mechanism to escape should Red Bull's new project with Ford, coming into force under the sweeping rule change coming into effect next season, fall short competitively.

Russell and Verstappen are known to have a frosty relationship, with the Englishman publicly criticising the Red Bull driver ahead of last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, labelling him a "bully" - Verstappen called the Mercedes driver a "loser" in reply.

"We just say hello to each other," Russell said.

"We don't really speak. But we don't ignore each other. I don't lose sleep over it. And for sure he doesn't lose sleep over it. So it doesn't bother me one single bit.

"Life is short. We're all adults. We all learn from these experiences. You don't need to be best mates as teammates ... Max is an incredible driver. There's no denying that. But that's why I would relish going up against him. We all believe we're the best."

Russell and Mercedes hope 2026 is a return to championship-winning form - Russell joined the team in 2022, right as its dynasty period of titles came to an end.

Russell stated after winning the Singapore Grand Prix last month that he feels ready to challenge for a title.

"That's not just marketing talk," Russell said of the growing hype around the new Mercedes engine project.

"I'd probably say potentially the only ones who wouldn't [swap teams] would be the McLaren guys."