George Russell has declared that he will be a Mercedes F1 driver in 2027, as the threat of Max Verstappen looms large.
Throughout 2025, speculation grew that Russell could leave Mercedes if it agreed a deal to sign Verstappen for '26 as Red Bull's competitiveness dipped, but an exit clause in the Dutchman's contract was not triggered, with Russell's extension to stay at Brackley announced thereafter.
Given Red Bull's woes at the start of the new regulations in 2026, and Mercedes winning the first three grands prix easily, Verstappen has once again been linked to joining the Silver Arrows, with Russell again tipped to be the driver to make way over Kimi Antonelli.
However, Russell has issued a firm declaration that he will be a Mercedes F1 driver in 2027, no matter if he wins the drivers' championship or not.
"Yeah, it is pretty much that you hit the metrics and move on," Russell told media, including RacingNews365, of his contract situation.
"So I will be here next year with the team, and there is not really much more to say.
"It is a multi-year deal, it is numerous years as we said last year.
"Often in a lot of these contracts, even if the metrics are not hit, if things are happy, then you continue.
"But as I said, the metrics will very likely be hit."
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