George Russell has disclosed that his attempt to secure a Mercedes Formula One car for his private collection fell flat during his most recent contract discussions with the Silver Arrows.
The 27-year-old British driver, who committed to a fresh multi-year agreement with Toto Wolff's outfit back in October, put forward the rather distinctive request but found himself rebuffed.
"I tried to get a Formula One car during my last contract negotiations," Russell admitted.
"But unfortunately, I wasn't successful."
George Russell tried to score himself a Mercedes Formula One car for his collection during contract talks
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The five-time Grand Prix victor will continue alongside teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli as Mercedes prepares for the forthcoming 2026 campaign.
The budget cap regulations have created a significant bottleneck in chassis production, Russell explained.
"Because of the cost cap, we only produce three or four monocoques per year," he said.
"Twenty years ago, when unlimited testing was still allowed, each team built 15 to 20 chassis."
During that earlier era, teams would cycle through their chassis on a regular basis, giving drivers far greater opportunity to retain their machinery.
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff knocked back George Russell's request
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The dramatic reduction in monocoque numbers has made it considerably more difficult for current drivers to add their racing cars to personal collections, unlike predecessors who competed in less financially restricted times.
Russell has put forward a potential remedy to this predicament, suggesting motorsport's governing body could permit teams to manufacture chassis beyond the spending restrictions.
"I would like to see the teams find a way to produce monocoques outside of the budget cap," he explained. "We have enough of the other parts."
The Mercedes driver pointed out that component availability is not the issue elsewhere, noting that each driver receives five power units annually and that Mercedes manufactures approximately 60 engines per season.
Wings and underbodies are similarly plentiful, with at least ten sets of most components available.
"Maybe I should talk to the FIA about that," Russell mused.
George Russell has been tipped for stardom this season at Mercedes
| REUTERSRussell's desire to own his racing machinery comes as little surprise to those familiar with his enthusiasm for the Stuttgart marque.
The British driver counts himself among the exclusive group of just 275 individuals worldwide who own the Mercedes-AMG One hypercar.
Speaking to Adam Hay-Nicholls' Luxury Gonzo! publication about that particular acquisition, Russell revealed: "Three years ago, when I committed to the car, I probably couldn't afford it. It was really pushing the boat out, but I had faith in my career progression."
Beyond the hypercar, Russell has piloted numerous Mercedes road vehicles throughout his career, including the C43, AMG GT C, and a V8-powered G-Wagon.