George Russell confirms Mercedes deal includes automatic 2027 renewal. George Russell confirms his Mercedes contract includes a performance clause that guarantees an automatic renewal.

George Russell confirms the “1+1” deal: “Automatic renewal for 2027 if we perform well”
George Russell has confirmed the existence of a performance-based clause that guarantees an automatic renewal with Mercedes for 2027.

Russell and the 2027 clause
Thanks to consistently strong performances, George Russell has earned his seat at Mercedes for 2026. The British driver secured a very favourable deal—effectively doubling his salary—after an impressive season marked by two pole positions converted into victories in Montreal and Singapore.

However, according to the statement released by the Brackley-based team, George Russell’s renewal (and that of his teammate Kimi Antonelli) is officially valid for one year only. The extension indeed covers just 12 months, but as with all driver contracts, performance clauses can trigger an automatic renewal. In Mexico, the British driver confirmed the “1+1” nature of his agreement with the team that has supported his rise through the ranks.

Russell’s words
“It’s something I haven’t said publicly yet, but in the deal there’s a specific clause stating that if I reach a certain target, we’ll automatically renew for 2027,” he told The Telegraph. “So the seat for 2027 is in my hands. It won’t be like the situation we saw over the past few months: I don’t want to go into details, but if I’m competitive, then I’ll stay 100%.”

The shadow of Max
George Russell’s performance-based “1+1” renewal for 2026 could reduce the likelihood of seeing Max Verstappen join Mercedes in 2027. The hope of signing the reigning world champion was one of the main reasons why team principal Toto Wolff kept both Russell and Antonelli waiting for confirmation. However, the Austrian will surely continue to pursue the Dutch driver if Red Bull fails to provide him with a competitive car in 2026.