Russell discloses details of the 'automatic' Mercedes agreement.

Russell discloses details of the 'automatic' Mercedes agreement.

      George Russell has finally revealed the details of his newly-signed Mercedes contract and even suggested the circumstances that could eventually make him Max Verstappen’s teammate. The 27-year-old British driver recently renewed his contract with Mercedes, but there was ongoing uncertainty about its duration and terms, with rumors ranging from a single-year option to a more extended agreement with performance stipulations.

      Russell has now clarified that the contract is initially for one year, with an option for automatic renewal in 2027, contingent on his performance. "This is something I haven’t actually disclosed publicly," Russell told The Telegraph. "But the deal stipulates that if I perform next year and hit a specific target, we’ll automatically renew for 2027. So, my seat for 2027 depends on my performance."

      He further stated, "I’m not being misled here. We’re not going to find ourselves in the same situation we were six months ago. If I deliver, then there’s no doubt I’ll stay."

      Reports suggest that Russell agreed to the shorter contract in return for a significant salary increase and enhanced control over his extracurricular activities and future prospects. "Everything has worked out for the best," he remarked. "I wanted to sign the deal back in October 2024, but the arrangement I have now is far better than what I would have received had I signed then. Sometimes, you just need to trust your abilities - I feel like I’m only getting stronger."

      In the paddock, it’s commonly believed that if Verstappen were to join Mercedes — a speculation linked to the expected engine advantage under the new 2026 regulations — Russell would likely be the one to step aside. However, some contend that a pairing of Russell and Verstappen could be more formidable than a Verstappen and Antonelli combination.

      When asked whether the two could coexist in the same garage, Russell responded casually, "We’re fine. We just greet each other. We don’t talk much, but we don’t ignore each other either. It doesn’t keep me up at night, and I doubt it bothers him either."

      He continued, "Life is short. We’re all adults. You don’t have to be best friends as teammates. Senna and Prost weren’t close, yet they finished one-two. The same goes for Lewis and Nico. And, of course, Lewis and Fernando are a notable exception, but Lewis should have won that year.

      "There’s no denying Max is an incredible driver, which is why I would love to compete against him. We all believe we’re the best."

      When asked if he thought Verstappen would feel similarly, Russell smiled and said, "I don’t see why he wouldn’t. It’s clearly a lose-lose situation for him. Just like when I was teammates with Lewis—if he beat me, it was expected. If he lost to me, it was a huge upset. It’s similar to my current situation with Kimi. But we’re jumping ahead of ourselves here."

      Nonetheless, Russell is adamant that Mercedes’ optimism for the 2026 engine era is sincere. "That’s not just promotional talk," he asserted. "I would say the only ones who wouldn’t want my position would be the guys at McLaren."

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Home » Blog » What If Lincoln Had a Smartphone? In 2008, during the early stages of my writing journey, I wrote an essay for my blog that posed an intriguing question: Would Lincoln Have Been President if He Had Email? This was one of my initial efforts to understand issues like digital distraction and focus, themes that later developed into my books Deep Work and A World Without Email. Central to this inquiry was a concerning idea that struck me while watching a documentary about our sixteenth president: If the Internet diminishes our capacity to sit and concentrate without distraction, akin to the intense focus found in a Lincoln log cabin, we must pose the crucial question: Are we destined to be a generation lacking in grand ideas? In essence, if Lincoln had access to the internet, would he have been too side-tracked to become the self-made individual who ultimately transformed our nascent Republic? In that initial essay, I tended to lean towards “yes.” However, over the years, I have become somewhat of a Lincoln enthusiast, having read over six biographies about him. This exploration has led me to conclude that my initial instincts were misguided. Lincoln, certainly, didn’t face the challenges of digital technology. Nonetheless, the rugged frontier towns of Indiana and Illinois, where he spent much of his early life, presented their own analog versions of the same distractions we associate with the modern internet. These towns were rife with a relentless drive toward numbing distractions, particularly through alcohol. William Lee Miller noted in Lincoln’s Virtues, “Incredible quantities of whiskey were consumed,” and it was customary for every man to drink on any occasion. There was also the real threat of “cancellation” represented by violent mobs and numerous efforts to incite radicalism or spread hatred, exemplified by the widespread antipathy toward Native Americans, which Miller referred to as a “ubiquitous western presence” at that time. Yet, Lincoln managed to sidestep these pitfalls and significantly elevate his status. Many factors contribute to this narrative, but one is particularly notable: he honed his intellect through reading. Here are some quotes about young Lincoln from his stepmother, Sarah Bush Lincoln, who nurtured his interest in books: “Abe read all the books he could get his hands on.” “I persuaded my husband to allow Abe to read and study both at home and at school… we were careful not to disturb him while he read; we let him go on reading until he chose to stop.” “While other boys were out stealing watermelons and wasting their time, he was absorbed in his books—thinking and reflecting.” Lincoln utilized books to enhance his intellect, opening up his world and allowing him to envision new opportunities and more meaningful futures—offering a powerful alternative to the forces that sought to hold him back. Embedded within this narrative is guidance for our current era. To transcend the distracted shadows of the online world, we might, quite literally, take a page from Lincoln and strive to cultivate our minds rather than pacifying them. Home » Blog » What If Lincoln Had a Smartphone? In 2008, during the early stages of my writing journey, I wrote an essay for my blog that posed an intriguing question: Would Lincoln Have Been President if He Had Email? This was one of my initial efforts to understand issues like digital distraction and focus, themes that later developed into my books Deep Work and A World Without Email. Central to this inquiry was a concerning idea that struck me while watching a documentary about our sixteenth president: If the Internet diminishes our capacity to sit and concentrate without distraction, akin to the intense focus found in a Lincoln log cabin, we must pose the crucial question: Are we destined to be a generation lacking in grand ideas? In essence, if Lincoln had access to the internet, would he have been too side-tracked to become the self-made individual who ultimately transformed our nascent Republic? In that initial essay, I tended to lean towards “yes.” However, over the years, I have become somewhat of a Lincoln enthusiast, having read over six biographies about him. This exploration has led me to conclude that my initial instincts were misguided. Lincoln, certainly, didn’t face the challenges of digital technology. Nonetheless, the rugged frontier towns of Indiana and Illinois, where he spent much of his early life, presented their own analog versions of the same distractions we associate with the modern internet. These towns were rife with a relentless drive toward numbing distractions, particularly through alcohol. William Lee Miller noted in Lincoln’s Virtues, “Incredible quantities of whiskey were consumed,” and it was customary for every man to drink on any occasion. There was also the real threat of “cancellation” represented by violent mobs and numerous efforts to incite radicalism or spread hatred, exemplified by the widespread antipathy toward Native Americans, which Miller referred to as a “ubiquitous western presence” at that time. Yet, Lincoln managed to sidestep these pitfalls and significantly elevate his status. Many factors contribute to this narrative, but one is particularly notable: he honed his intellect through reading. Here are some quotes about young Lincoln from his stepmother, Sarah Bush Lincoln, who nurtured his interest in books: “Abe read all the books he could get his hands on.” “I persuaded my husband to allow Abe to read and study both at home and at school… we were careful not to disturb him while he read; we let him go on reading until he chose to stop.” “While other boys were out stealing watermelons and wasting their time, he was absorbed in his books—thinking and reflecting.” Lincoln utilized books to enhance his intellect, opening up his world and allowing him to envision new opportunities and more meaningful futures—offering a powerful alternative to the forces that sought to hold him back. Embedded within this narrative is guidance for our current era. To transcend the distracted shadows of the online world, we might, quite literally, take a page from Lincoln and strive to cultivate our minds rather than pacifying them. 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Russell discloses details of the 'automatic' Mercedes agreement.

Formula 1 | George Russell has finally revealed details about his newly signed contract with Mercedes and has even suggested some conditions that could lead to one (…)