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Russell reveals ‘unsuccessful’ Mercedes F1 contract negotiations
Mercedes star George Russell recently revealed that he didn’t manage to secure everything he wanted in his last contract negotiation, particularly in reference to obtaining his own Formula 1 car for personal use. Despite some uncertainty surrounding his future in F1 midway through 2025, he eventually signed on with Mercedes in October. Russell expressed disappointment over not being able to own an F1 car due to the constraints of the cost cap, which limits the production of monocoques to only three or four per year. He suggested that teams should consider producing monocoques outside of the budget cap to allow drivers like himself to collect their own F1 cars, which he sees as a missed opportunity in his recent negotiations. Russell highlighted the surplus of certain F1 components, such as engines and aerodynamic parts, compared to the scarcity of chassis, indicating a potential area for improvement in the rules.
