New details have emerged about George Russell‘s contract negotiations with Mercedes. The British driver is not only looking to renew his contract, but he is also setting clear conditions for his new deal – including a notable clause linked to teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. With this, Russell hopes to secure his future with the team and ward off the potential arrival of Max Verstappen.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has publicly stated his desire to retain his current drivers, but nothing has been officially confirmed yet. Meanwhile, more and more details are leaking out about Russell’s wishes: he is reportedly aiming for a salary comparable to that of Lando Norris, and he wants to commit to Mercedes for three years. Russell is performing strongly in 2025: he is fourth in the championship and, alongside Verstappen, is the only one who has won a race this year apart from the McLaren drivers.
However, it seems that Russell is primarily focused on securing his place within the team. As long as he has not signed, the door remains ajar for Verstappen – and with it, the uncertainty about his future. Therefore, the 27-year-old Briton would like to include an ‘Antonelli clause’ in his contract. This means that his performances next season will be compared to those of teammate Antonelli. If Russell manages to beat him by a pre-agreed margin, a contract extension would automatically come into effect. In this way, Russell hopes to secure his long-term future with Mercedes. Unsurprisingly, Wolff seems to have little appetite for Russell’s current demands – the Mercedes team boss is reportedly sticking to a one-year contract without special conditions.
