George Russell suggests Mercedes are still after Red Bull's Max Verstappen
George Russell (left) has suggested his contract renewal is being held up over Mercedes' ongoing interest in Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. PHOTO: AFP
SPIELBERG, Austria - George Russell has suggested his contract renewal talks with Mercedes are being held up because the team are still keen to sign Formula One champion Max Verstappen.
The 27-year-old Briton, winner in Canada two weeks ago, is out of contract at the end of the season while four-times champion Verstappen has a deal with Red Bull until 2028, subject to get-out clauses.
Russell told Sky Sports television at the Austrian Grand Prix that Mercedes, constructors' champions eight years in a row from 2014-2021 and currently second to McLaren, wanted to return to the top.
'If you're going to be back on top you need to make sure you've got the best drivers, the best engineers, the best pit crew, and that's what Mercedes are chasing,' he said.
'So, it's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing. But from my side, if I'm performing as I'm doing, what have I got to be concerned about? There are two seats in every Formula One team.'
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff made his interest in Verstappen clear in 2024 as he sought a replacement for seven-times champion Lewis Hamilton.
In the end, 18-year-old Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli was handed the opportunity and has been setting a string of age records, drawing strong support from fans.
Verstappen and Russell have had a series of headline clashes on and off the track over the past 12 months, with Mercedes likely to have concerns about pairing them together should the opportunity arise.
Russell told reporters separately that team boss Toto Wolff has assured him he was performing as well as anybody on the starting grid.
'I think there's only one driver that you can debate in terms of performance - these are his words, these are not my words - so that's why I have no concern about the future,' he said.
'But there's two seats at every team and I guess he needs to think, who are those two drivers going to be for those two seats, and I guess that's what the delay is.'
Verstappen, appearing in the main FIA press conference, was reluctant to talk about his future when asked if he would be driving for Red Bull in 2026.
'Do you want me to repeat what I said last year?... it's not really on my mind. Just driving well, trying to push the performance, and then we focus on next year.' REUTERS
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