George Russell has revealed that his new Mercedes contract contains a clause that will guarantee his future with the team if he performs during the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n
Mercedes ended the long-running saga surrounding Russell\u2019s F1 future earlier this month by confirming that the British driver, as well as rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, will remain in place for next season.<\/p>\n
George Russell reveals \u2018specific clause\u2019 in new Mercedes contract<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s announcement came hot on the heels of Russell securing his fifth career victory at the Singapore Grand Prix, having also tasted victory in Canada earlier this season.<\/p>\n
Russell\u2019s new deal arrived after Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver and reigning four-time world champion, had been heavily linked with a move to Mercedes earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Russell himself revealed that talks between Verstappen and Mercedes for 2026 were \u201congoing\u201d during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend in June, claiming the negotiations were delaying a resolution to his own future.<\/p>\n
Analysis: Mexican Grand Prix<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0Mexican GP conclusions: Big Norris chance, Verstappen illusion, new Hamilton document incoming<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0Mexico City Grand Prix driver ratings: Norris leads perfect 10s; Sainz sorrow<\/a><\/p>\n With Mercedes opting against specifying the exact length of Russell\u2019s new contract, it has been speculated that the team could renew its interest in Verstappen ahead of the 2027 season.<\/p>\n PlanetF1.com reported at the time of Russell\u2019s extension<\/a> that he is believed to have signed a multi-year agreement of some description to remain at Mercedes.<\/p>\n And the 27-year-old has now confirmed that his new contract contains a clause that will seal his place at Mercedes for 2027 if he meets certain performance targets on track next season.<\/p>\n He told the Telegraph<\/a>: \u201cIt is something I haven\u2019t actually said publicly, but the deal is if I\u2019m performing [next year] we have a specific clause that if I reach [a certain target], we will automatically renew for 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cSo my seat for 2027 is in my hands. So I\u2019m not being strung along here.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not going to be in the same position as we were six months ago.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I perform, and I don\u2019t want to go into details, but if I perform, then 100 per cent I\u2019ll be staying.\u201d<\/p>\n Russell, who joined Mercedes ahead of the 2022 season, went on to reveal that he originally intended to sign his new Mercedes contract as far back as October 2024.<\/p>\n However, he admitted that he has secured \u201csubstantially better\u201d terms as a result of the delay to the agreement.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cEverything works out for the best.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.<\/p>\n \u201cSo sometimes I think you just have to trust in your ability and I feel I\u2019m only getting stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n Mercedes has been limited to just seven race wins \u2013 split between Russell (five) and his former teammate Lewis Hamilton (two) \u2013 since the British driver arrived from Williams almost four years ago.<\/p>\n However, the team is widely expected to re-emerge as a title-contending force in 2026 with its preparations for the new rules \u2013 which will see the sport embrace 50 per cent electrification, fully sustainable fuels and active aerodynamics \u2013 widely believed to be significantly more advanced than its rivals.<\/p>\n Mercedes previously emerged as F1\u2019s dominant team following the last major engine rules changes in 2014, winning a record eight consecutive constructors\u2019 titles and seven drivers\u2019 championships divided between Hamilton (2014-15 and 2017-20) and Nico Rosberg (2016).<\/p>\n As well as the Mercedes factory outfit, three teams \u2013 newly crowned 2025 constructors\u2019 champions McLaren, Williams and Alpine \u2013 will compete with Mercedes power units under the new regulations in 2026.<\/p>\n Carlos Sainz recently hinted at a major Mercedes advantage<\/a> for 2026 by revealing that the team\u2019s access to the German manufacturer\u2019s engine was \u201cone of the main reasons\u201d he opted to join Williams last year upon his surprise exit from Ferrari.<\/p>\n Sainz went on to remark that \u201ceverything I\u2019ve heard about\u201d the 2026 Mercedes engine \u201chas been positive.\u201d<\/p>\n More on George Russell and Mercedes from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 George Russell news<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Mercedes news<\/a><\/p>\n Sainz\u2019s comments came after Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, predicted over the summer break that the new 2026 engines could achieve eye-watering top speeds<\/a> of\u00a0around 400 kilometres per hour (248.5mph) at full power next season.<\/p>\n It is unclear at this stage if any of Mercedes\u2019 four rivals \u2013 Ferrari, Honda and newcomers Audi F1 and Red Bull Powertrains-Ford \u2013 have found such extreme top-speed predictions during their own simulations.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a report in Italy last week indicated that the new Audi F1 engine could be as much as 31 brake horsepower down<\/a> on the 2026 Mercedes powertrain.<\/p>\n The Audi F1 is said to be operating at between 540-550bhp \u2013 a deficit of around 21-31bhp to Mercedes\u2019 reported figures of 571bhp.<\/p>\n If true, those figures would put the Audi power unit at a roughly similar deficit to that of the current Renault engine, which is widely agreed to be the weakest in F1 today.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n