P1racenews AI automatic summary:
“Why not? Well, Frank Williams did it four times. Frank Williams lost four World Champions.”
Former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok expressed concerns that George Russell winning the 2026 world championship might not secure his future with Mercedes in the long term. Before the 2025 F1 United States Grand Prix, Mercedes announced new contracts for Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Despite Toto Wolff’s assurance of keeping both drivers, there was uncertainty due to Mercedes’ interest in signing Max Verstappen. Wolff flirted with the idea of signing Verstappen, leading to prolonged contract negotiations, especially with Russell. Russell sought a deal beyond 2026 and fewer media obligations. Rumors about Mercedes potentially being competitive under new technical regulations next year could boost Russell’s confidence. Chandhok advised Russell to take control of his contract negotiations and consider other opportunities in the market, encouraging him to separate his management from Mercedes to secure his future in Formula 1.
