George Russell has shown confidence in staying with Mercedes for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The Briton stated that he should easily meet the performance clause in his contract, despite the speculations involving Max Verstappen.
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Questions about Russell’s future arose amid rumors of a possible departure of Verstappen from Red Bull Racing, as well as the interest previously shown by Toto Wolff in the Dutch driver. Still, Russell stated that his stay with the German team is well underway.
The Briton signed a new contract with Mercedes last year, in a multi-year deal with a performance clause for an extension. With three wins in the first three races this year, one by Russell and two by Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes is seen as a benchmark for the 2026 season, and Russell believes he will have no trouble meeting the requirements.
“Basically, you hit the targets and move on,” Russell said when talking about his future. “I will be here next year with the team. There’s not much more to say. It’s a multi-year deal.”
The driver also highlighted that even when targets are not met, continuity usually happens when there is satisfaction between the parties: “In many of these contracts, even if the targets are not met, if everything is fine, you continue. But as I said, the targets will most likely be met,” he added.
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The situation contrasts with the scenario a year ago, when Russell’s future seemed quite uncertain and there was a long process until his contract renewal. At the time, Verstappen was even mentioned as a possible option for the German team.
At the moment, both Russell and his teammate, Antonelli, have valid contracts for the current season. However, the young driver’s future has not yet been confirmed beyond this year, which has fueled speculation about possible changes.
Despite this, Wolff sought to downplay the rumors involving Verstappen: “There is no conversation about Max. I couldn’t be happier with the two drivers we have. The age difference between them fits well with our strategy,” said the Mercedes boss.
The rumors were also fueled by comments from former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer, who suggested that Verstappen could seek new directions given Red Bull Racing’s current difficulties. Still, with Russell confident in meeting his contractual clause, the Briton’s stay at Mercedes for 2027 seems increasingly likely.
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