Source: Imagn Images/David Kirouac
[Saba Sports News] The Mercedes team is facing a key decision: whether to extend George Russell’s contract. Anthony Davidson, the team’s test driver, said outright that not signing Russell would be a foolish move. Davidson pointed out that Russell was developed by the Mercedes junior program, from F3 to F2, then to Williams, and finally promoted to the main Silver Arrow team. He has grown into a core driver capable of winning races. In Davidson’s opinion, Russell is the most reasonable and safe choice for the team right now. However, he also made it clear that if Max Verstappen appears on the driver market, everything will have to be re-evaluated. Currently, Verstappen’s contract with Red Bull ends in 2028, but there have been rumors about a “performance-related exit clause” in his deal, especially given Red Bull’s recent performance decline and questions about the team’s stability. In other words, unless Verstappen appears on the market, there’s no reason for Mercedes not to sign Russell to a long-term contract.