Russell makes massive admission over freshly signed Mercedes deal

On October 15, the Brackley-based team officially announced a double contract renewal for both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, confirming their current line-up for next season.

However, while the Italian’s deal appears more straightforward — likely to be renewed on a year-by-year basis — Russell’s contract could extend automatically into 2027 under performance-based conditions.

"It is something I haven't actually said publicly, but the deal is, if I'm performing (in 2026), we have a specific clause that if I reach (a target), we will automatically renew for 2027, so my seat for 2027 is in my hands," the Brit told in conversation with The Telegraph.

Russell finally explained why the contract negotiations took so long: "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. Sometimes I think you just have to trust in your ability and I feel I'm only getting stronger."

Throughout this year — especially over the summer — rumours swirled about a possible move linking Max Verstappen to Mercedes. Toto Wolff publicly expressed interest in the four-time world champion on several occasions, while always reiterating his intention to continue with the current driver pairing.

In the end, nothing came of it: Verstappen reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull for 2026, and the Silver Arrows ultimately confirmed the contract renewals of Russell and Antonelli as expected.

On the eve of the Mexican Grand Prix, the Brit made it clear how he reacted to the persistent rumours about his future — and the speculation linking Verstappen to Mercedes.