Russell's Mercedes deal includes 2027 extension if 2026 targets hit

George Russell said on the eve of the Mexico City Grand Prix that his long-awaited contract with Mercedes includes a performance-based clause that will automatically extend his deal into 2027 if he meets specified targets in 2026, a development that both secures his short-term future and hands him greater control over his destiny at the Brackley team. The 27-year-old made the remarks to reporters in Mexico on Thursday after Mercedes confirmed new deals for Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli earlier this month.

Russell described the arrangement as a one-year agreement with a conditional extension. "My seat for 2027 is in my hands," he said, adding that the trigger depends on hitting a set of performance targets next season. He also downplayed weeks of speculation about his future as distraction. "This external noise, to be honest, is only noise on a Thursday," he told reporters.

The contract talks were drawn out through much of the year, in part because Mercedes explored the possibility of signing Max Verstappen for the 2026 regulations shake-up. Verstappen confirmed before the summer break that he will remain at Red Bull for 2026, clearing the way for Mercedes to finalise...