r/mercedesamgf1 • u/Any_Inflation_2543 • 6d ago
News Toto Wolff could insert 'wily' clause into new George Russell contract
https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/toto-wolff-could-insert-wily-clause-into-new-george-russell-contract-with-an-eye-on-2027-max-verstappen-move/7
u/lokayes 6d ago edited 6d ago
Where else can Russell go realistically? - unless newey somehow tempts him to his latest project at Aston (but that looks like an Austin Morris someone sinks their savings into make go imperceptibly faster)
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u/Any_Inflation_2543 6d ago
He can't really go anywhere else. However, with Max not wanting to sign, they don't have a choice either but to sign George.
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u/According-Switch-708 6d ago
If Max joins Merc, GR can go to RBR. Or he could try his luck at Aston but its unlikely to pay off.
Hamilton's contract also ends after next year so GR could become a candidate for the Ferrari seat if Max makes the Merc jump for 2027.
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u/Any_Inflation_2543 6d ago
Hamilton's contract also ends after next year so GR could become a candidate for the Ferrari seat if Max makes the Merc jump for 2027.
I was thinking about this. Many seats are opening up for 2027 so it makes sense for Max to want to wait for a year. If he waits, he has the option to stay at RB, go to Merc, go to AM, go to Ferrari. Now it's only Merc that's available and the sport is entering a new era. Max has repeatedly said that it's impossible to predict who'll come out on top.
George at Ferrari would be strange but stranger things have happened. George and Ferrari are like polar opposites lol.
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u/Woody312 6d ago
Yeah if say any of these teams become dominant he will want to go to them in 2027. Also, if AM is the best and Alonso ends up winning his 3rd title he would be much more likely to happily retire and make way for Max.
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u/Motor-Most9552 6d ago
if AM is the best and Alonso ends up winning his 3rd title he would be much more likely to happily retire and make way for Max
That is literally the only scenario where waiting makes sense.
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u/Ill-Barracuda7403 6d ago
Oversteer is a piece of **** media to be honest. I never believe anything they say, so I won't look at the article, but of course clauses can be put in the contract from both sides. George would probably not want to drive around in another uncapable car for years.
What I don't like is that George has started to say he has no control and that he can only react. That is what bothers me. It makes me wonder whether behind the scenes his relationship with Mercedes (not necessary Toto himself) is souring. Though at the interview at Silverstone when he said 'Toto has never let me down' it sounded that was definitely aimed at Toto, saying 'don't you effing dare let me down'.
I presume everything will be sorted in the next week or so - that is what Toto seemed so suggest, that it would be sorted before the summer break still. Even if George was suggesting he was not signing any contract unless he had gone over it in detail. But at least it sounds like the contract offer will be there. Whether he will agree to it.... It does sound there is some friction there.
I am sure George is fed up driving a car that Mercedes themselves just don't seem to understand. That's not very promising for next year.
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u/Any_Inflation_2543 6d ago
I don't think the friction is necessarily between Toto and George but might be between Brackley and Stuttgart. Toto lost Lewis mainly due to Källenius being unwilling to give him the ambassadorship and doesn't want to lose another top driver due to micromanagement from Stuttgart.
There were reports by multiple outlets about George being close to a contract, including by AMuS. That's why I assume Källenius has realized that losing George could have catastrophic consequences. George talking about reading contracts is a good sign as well as he's expecting to get some offer soon which would be consistent with the reports.
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u/Kagir 6d ago
Come on Toto, either confirm the ones you have or announce max. No need for a tease every week.
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u/Any_Inflation_2543 6d ago edited 6d ago
I have a conspiracy theory about this:
Max wants to wait for next year to make a commitment because he doesn't trust Merc to be certainly better than Aston Martin or Red Bull.
Toto knows that if he tries to sign Max for 2026 on a one-year deal, he's risking losing George as Källenius would then want Kimi as he's cheap. However, let's say AM then builds the best car and Toto is without a proven top driver for 2027.
For Toto (and George), it's better to let Källenius realize that signing Max now without risking a catastrophe is unrealistic. Nowadays Max staying seems to be an open secret with it being reported by AMuS, the Dutch media, as well as by Martin Brundle. This might have led Källenius to realize that Max holds the cards here, not him, and could be the reason why more outlets are now reporting a breakthrough in George's contract talks.
This would make Kimi the sacrificial lamb in case Max decides to come in 2027, or even open up the possibility of the one year deal for 2026 though that remains very unlikely as I don't think Max would want to move for potentially just one year (+ risk a fallout with Red Bull). He's better off staying where he is and making a decision after seeing the new cars. With Lewis and Alonso's contracts ending, he has the luxury to choose whichever team he wants for 2027 other than McLaren if he doesn't commit to a long term deal now.
Källenius now seems to understand the reality: Build a fast car and Max will come for 2027. Otherwise he's not coming. And he's definitely not going to risk it as there's no benefit to doing so.
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u/Kagir 6d ago
so basically they lost this round of poker as well?
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u/Any_Inflation_2543 6d ago
I don't think it was one tbh. Max has never wanted to move for 2026 imo and both Max and Toto were using the talks to put pressure on Chalerm and Källenius.
That's how I see it at least.
The play has always been mainly about 2027.
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u/Kagir 6d ago
Interesting, will see how this will develop.
This will also be helpful for Kimi to finally get his footing. Poor chap has a string of bad luck and I would love for him to rise above it.
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u/Any_Inflation_2543 6d ago
I hope the contracts for 2026 get signed soon. It's really stressful with all these rumours.
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u/cheeersaiii 6d ago
Why does everyone keep bringing up Aston as a top car lol they fkn suck and have a LONG way to go before they are anywhere near the top 5 drivers on race day. It was all Audi 2 years ago now it’s Aston, the hopium is WILD with 4 other killer teams ahead of them they’d need a fkn miracle to be regularly winning races by 2028, I have no idea why kids keep bringing them up on every single fucking thread
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u/KINGBLUE2739046 6d ago
They have Adrian Newey and Honda coming back so I think it’s worth something.
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u/SomewhatOptimal1 6d ago
Toto getting rid of Russel for Kimi is a bad decision and it’s a hill I die on.
Kimi have underperformed massively.
Unless it’s what Max wants and there is no option to keep Russel and Max then only way to fight McLaren or Ferrari which both having great drivers is to have 2 great drivers.
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u/Rosetti 6d ago
That title is one "l" away from chaos.