George Russell warned Mercedes could drop him even if he wins 2026 F1 title

Ex-F1 driver Karun Chandhok fears {that a} 2026 world championship win for George Russell won’t be sufficient for him to safe his long-term future with Mercedes.

Forward of the 2025 F1 United States Grand Prix, Mercedes introduced new offers for Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

Whereas Toto Wolff insisted he had no intention of not retaining both driver, there had been some uncertainty amid Mercedes’ curiosity in signing Max Verstappen.

Wolff “flirted” with the thought of signing the four-time world champion – one thing he has since admitted he regrets.

This meant that contract negotiations, significantly with Russell, had been drawn out.

Russell wished safety in having a deal past 2026, in addition to a discount within the variety of media-related actions he was required to participate in.

Russell may even be inspired by paddock rumours suggesting Mercedes may very well be a championship-winning power once more subsequent 12 months when the brand new technical laws come into play.

Chandhok’s warning for Russell

Talking on Ted Kravitz’s Podbook in Austin, Chandhok suggested Russell that he must be “within the driving seat of his personal contract course of”.

At the moment, Russell is managed by Wolff and Mercedes attributable to his long-standing affiliation with their junior programme, which he joined in 2017.

“Why not? Effectively, Frank Williams did it 4 instances. Frank Williams misplaced 4 World Champions,” Chandhok mentioned when requested if the 2026 F1 title would assure his Mercedes F1 future.

“To me, this complete expertise, it must be a type of a, not a purple mild, however an orange mild, at the least for George, that it’s time for him to separate his administration away from the race group he’s with.

“It’s put him within the passenger seat of this complete course of. It’s been dragged out. In impact, Toto’s been negotiating on each side of the desk for this deal.

“And actually, for ‘27, if Max is a contender, and he completely is a contender for that seat for ‘27, then George has acquired to spend, I feel, subsequent 12 months making an attempt to get management of his personal future.

“He must put himself within the driving seat of his personal contract course of, his personal decision-making course of, and in addition perceive what’s occurring [in] the remainder of the market. As a result of, you realize, so long as Mercedes has been managing him, why would they do this?

“Whereas he wants to grasp, is there an choice to go to Aston for ‘27? Is there an choice to Ferrari? Who is aware of what the Honda energy unit shall be like? Perhaps that’s the place to be, or the Audi one. Or the Crimson Bull Ford.”