Russell fastest as Dunne impresses in Austria
Mercedes driver George Russell headed Red Bull's Max Verstappen in first practice at the Austrian Grand Prix.Russell, who said on Thursday that Mercedes were talking to Verstappen about the possibility of driving for them next year, was 0.065 seconds quicker than the Dutchman.McLaren's Oscar Piastri was third fastest, ahead of an impressive performance from 19-year-old Irishman Alex Dunne in the other McLaren.Dunne, leading the Formula 2 championship this season, is a member of the McLaren young driver programme and was having his first outing at a grand prix in Lando Norris' car.He was just 0.069secs off Piastri's pace, both running on the soft tyres, although his lap was set slightly later in the session than the Australian's, when the track would have been in better condition.Both McLaren and Red Bull have taken upgrades to the Red Bull Ring.McLaren have new front suspension shaping that is aimed at working with a new front wing that was first tested at the last race in Canada.Red Bull have a new floor edge. Ferrari, for whom Lewis Hamilton was ninth fastest, have a completely redesigned new floor, their first upgrade since Bahrain in April.Alpine's Pierre Gasly was fifth fastest, ahead of Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto and the Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz.
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Reuters
11 minutes ago
- Reuters
Wolff plays down chances of Verstappen to Mercedes in 2026
SPIELBERG, Austria, June 27 (Reuters) - George Russell is more likely to stay with Mercedes next year than Max Verstappen is to join, the Formula One team's boss Toto Wolff said on Friday while confirming his interest for the future. Russell indicated on Thursday that Mercedes were talking to Verstappen about a move from Red Bull and suggested that was why an extension to his own contract beyond this season was taking time, although he was confident for the future. "There is no delay in George's contract negotiations," Wolff told Sky Sports television at the Austrian Grand Prix, where Russell was fastest in first practice. "It's pretty clear since a long time what our timings were and are, we've known each other for such a long time and so there is no such thing as a delay." Wolff said it was a question of trying to understand what time framework Verstappen, a four times world champion who is contracted to Red Bull until 2028, was operating under and what his plans were. "And that could be long into the future," he added. "But that has no effect on us putting a signature on George's contract." Russell said on Thursday that it was normal Mercedes would want to talk to Verstappen. Asked if Russell, whose teammate is 18-year-old Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli, was more likely to be in the Mercedes than Verstappen next year, Wolff replied: "Yes." "What we are trying to do in the team is to be transparent... you can either choose to hold things under wraps or like we have done in the last 10-12 years is put it out there and say 'this is the situation'," said Wolff. "There is no such thing as saying 'we are going to sign Max'. This is so far away that it is not realistic. With George, we talk about everything." Speaking to reporters earlier, Wolff said everything was normal and going to plan with Russell's contract talks. He also did not rule out pairing Russell and Verstappen in future, despite their recent public feuding and on track clashes. "I can imagine every line-up. I had Rosberg and Hamilton fighting for a world championship, so everything else afterwards is easy," said the Austrian. "There's pros and cons of having two drivers fighting each other hard. "We've seen examples where that functioned and other examples where it didn't."
Metro
12 minutes ago
- Metro
Mercedes boss reveals talks with Max Verstappen over sensational F1 transfer
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has confirmed he is in talks to sign Max Verstappen from Red Bull and partner him with Formula 1 rival George Russell. Despite having a contract until 2028, Verstappen has been continually linked with leaving Red Bull, the team he has driven for almost his entire F1 career. There have been ongoing reports of tension at the team, including a long-standing feud between team principal Christian Horner and Verstappen's father Jos, and also questions over whether Red Bull will remain competitive without design genius Adrian Newey. It is said the four-time world champion has exit clauses in his contract and Aston Martin have reportedly offered the four-time F1 champion a deal worth £226million, but Mercedes are better-placed to sign him. Wolff has not hidden his admiration for the Dutchman and both of the Silver Arrows' drivers – Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli – are out of contract at the end of the year. Ahead of this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, Russell claimed that the delay over his own contract extension was because Mercedes were in talks with Verstappen. Wolff has now confirmed that 'tentative conversations' have been held with Verstappen's representatives, telling Sky Sports on Friday: 'First of all there is no delay in George's contract negotiations. 'But also, as a team principal, I'm responsible for the best car brand in the world. It's clear you need to explore what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future and that could be long into the future. 'But that has no effect on us putting a signature on George's contract,' with Wolff going onto say that Russell was more likely to be a Mercedes driver next year than Verstappen. This would seem to throw into doubt Antonelli's future despite the 18-year-old's impressive performances but Wolff has also said he is 'extremely happy' with his current line-up. While potentially the best on the grid, a Verstappen/Russell partnership could be problematic given the heated rivalry between the two which came to a head a month ago at the Spanish Grand Prix. More Trending Verstappen deliberately crashed into the British driver during the final few laps in Barcelona but Wolff claims this would not be an obstacle for him, adding: 'I can imagine every line-up. 'I had Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton fighting for a world championship, so everything else afterwards is easy. 'There are pros and cons of having two drivers fighting each other hard. We've seen examples where that functions and other examples where it didn't.' Following his win in Canada, Russell is an outside bet in the title race behind Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and Verstappen. Asked for an update on his Mercedes contract talks, the 27-year-old told Sky Sports: 'It's not something that I'm pressing massively because the performance is the priority, and I feel with the performance I'm showing at the moment, I've got zero reasons to be worried. 'But obviously, it does help if there was pen on paper. But let's see.' 'As Mercedes, they want to be back on top, and 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. '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? 'But there's two seats at every team and I guess he [Wolff] needs to think, who are those two drivers going to be for those two seats, and I guess that's what the delay is.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: The primal reason we find F1 drivers so goddamn sexy MORE: Max Verstappen issues statement with F1 champion at risk of race ban MORE: Max Verstappen reveals whether he deliberately crashed into George Russell
South Wales Guardian
13 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Toto Wolff again opens door to Max Verstappen-George Russell pairing at Mercedes
Wolff has long been courting Verstappen and Russell, 27, revealed prior to Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix that he believes talks with the four-time world champion and Mercedes are ongoing. Russell, who has been one of the grid's standout performers this season – winning at the previous round in Canada – also suggested Mercedes' discussions with Verstappen could be delaying the renewal of his deal which expires in six months. Verstappen and Russell have a rocky history. They were embroiled in a vicious war of words in Abu Dhabi last December. Verstappen then accelerated into the British driver's Mercedes in Spain earlier this month – a wild move that leaves the Dutchman one penalty point away from being banned for next weekend's British Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg's relationship descended into chaos in the three years they fought for the world championship as team-mates at Mercedes. But, when asked if Verstappen could be paired with Russell, Wolff said: 'I can imagine every line-up. I had Hamilton and Rosberg fighting for a world championship so everything afterwards is easy. 'There are pros and cons to having two drivers fighting each other hard. We have seen examples where they have functioned and others where they didn't.' Russell's Italian team-mate Kimi Antonelli, 18, has impressed in his rookie season. However, he is under contract for this season only, and has no guarantee of a seat with Mercedes beyond this year. He is 73 points behind Russell in the standings. Verstappen's contract at Red Bull runs until 2028, although performance clauses within his current deal could activate an early release. Pressed directly on whether he is in dialogue with Verstappen, Wolff replied: 'At the moment, clearly we need to explore what is happening in the future. 'That doesn't change what I think about George, or Kimi or the line-up that I am extremely happy with. I want to have conversations behind-closed-doors and not in town halls.' It had been suggested that Russell's Mercedes extension could coincide with his home race at Silverstone next weekend. However, it is understood that a fresh deal for Russell, who is 62 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, is not imminent. And Wolff continued: 'When it comes to the contract situation, our sport is pressure, constant pressure, whether you are inside the car or outside the car, and you just need to cope with that. George knows that. 'I feel like when you are put into a comfort zone that is more detrimental to performance. 'He has always performed to the expectations we have set and he is continuing to do so. We have not given him a car to win the world championship, and that is on us. 'But in the times when the car has been good he is winning races, he is always there and you know he will extract what is in the car. 'He needs to be top of our list because he is a winner, a Mercedes junior, and he has been with us for a long time.'
