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F1Feature
George Russell explains why Mercedes contract clause gives him confidence despite Max Verstappen links
TL;DR
George Russell remains confident in his position at Mercedes despite rumors linking Max Verstappen to the team for 2027. Toto Wolff has previously attempted to recruit Verstappen, but release clauses have hindered those efforts.
Key points
- George Russell is confident about his Mercedes contract.
- Max Verstappen has a potential release clause for 2026.
- Toto Wolff has previously tried to recruit Verstappen.
Mentioned in this story
George RussellMax VerstappenMercedesRed Bull
Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images
George Russell is not worried about the possibility of Mercedes signing Max Verstappen in 2027, despite ongoing speculation about the Dutchmanās future at Red Bull.
Toto Wolff, Mercedesā team boss and part-owner, has openly admitted to trying to bring Verstappen into the team before. However, those attempts never got far since Verstappen wasnāt able to activate any of his release clauses while under contract with Red Bull.
Verstappen might have a way out at the end of 2026. The clause would become active if he is outside the top two in the driversā standings by mid-season, giving him until October to make a decision.
Red Bullās rough start this season hasnāt helped matters either. The RB22 has been plagued by balance issues, putting pressure on Verstappenās choice. Heās even hinted that he might retire from F1 altogether after 2026.
George Russell says he will ādefinitelyā be at Mercedes in 2027
Before Verstappen hinted at retirement during the Japanese Grand Prix, Wolff had already said Mercedes wouldnāt be pursuing him for 2027, citing confidence in Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. However, reports have since indicated that Wolff remains interested in bringing Verstappen on board.
Despite the speculation, Russell doesnāt see any reason to worry about Verstappen joining the team. Although his contract only runs through 2026, heās confident that a performance-based clause will keep him in place beyond that.
āOther than me announcing it here on your camera now, there is nothing to be concerned about,ā Russell told BBC Sport. āOf course, there are options [in my contract], but they are performance-based.
āAt the moment, the performance is very strong so things will definitely be continuing. Yes [the clause is based on the 2026 F1 driversā championship].ā
There has been some talk that Russell would need to win the 2026 title to activate a one-year extension with Mercedes. But his comments suggest that the terms might not be as demanding as needing to become champion outright.
Q&A
What did George Russell say about Max Verstappen joining Mercedes?
George Russell expressed that he is not worried about the possibility of Max Verstappen signing with Mercedes in 2027.
What is the release clause situation for Max Verstappen at Red Bull?
Max Verstappen has a release clause that could activate if he is outside the top two in the drivers' standings by mid-season 2026.
What has Toto Wolff said about signing Verstappen for Mercedes?
Toto Wolff, the team boss of Mercedes, has admitted to trying to bring Verstappen to the team, but previous attempts were unsuccessful due to contract restrictions.
