Mercedes driver George Russell has downplayed speculation surrounding a potential new contract, saying that his focus is on performing well on the track. The 27-year-old Briton has had a strong start to the season, scoring three podium finishes in the first four races, including a hard-fought second place at last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
Russell, who has been linked with a new deal with Mercedes, joked about his future when asked on media day ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, he quickly clarified that his priority is racing and performance, not contracts.
“For drivers, performance is our currency,” Russell said. “If you perform everything is good, so I’m just excited to go racing this weekend, focus on performance and the future sorts itself out.”
The Silver Arrows driver also pointed out that long-term contracts with exit clauses are common in Formula 1, where performance is a key factor in determining a driver’s fate.
“That’s how this sport works and how it should work,” Russell said. “All you can do is focus on driving fast.”
Source: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/if-you-perform-everything-is-good-russell-responds-to-speculation-over-new.22emYnkrfMdQovopYW9e06