I don't think I'll be going anywhere
George Russell says he "doesn't think I'll be going anywhere" amid links between his Mercedes team and four-time world champion Max Verstappen.Mercedes have talked to Verstappen's management about the possibility of the Dutchman joining them from Red Bull next year.The 27-year-old Briton is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of this season.Speaking at Silverstone on Thursday before this weekend's British Grand Prix, Russell said: "The likelihood I'm not at Mercedes next year, I think, is exceptionally low."Verstappen, who is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028 but is said to have contractual mechanisms which could enable him to leave, said he had "nothing to add" on the situation."There is no decision at the moment," he said. "For me, it's not about '26 or whatever."I just focus on what I have ahead of me, work with the team. And of course a lot of people make up assumptions, but that's not me."
At last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said it was likelier that Russell would be at the team next season than Verstappen, but did not deny he was speaking to the world champion's representatives. Russell said: "I don't take that personally because I made it clear from the beginning. I'm happy to be team-mates with anybody."I want to continue with Mercedes into the future. The fact is, Toto has never let me down. He's always given me his word, but he's also got to do what's right for his team, which includes me. But it also includes the thousands of people who work for Mercedes."For me, it's nothing to worry about because I don't think I'll be going anywhere. And whoever my team-mate will be, it doesn't concern me either."I know where their loyalty lies. It doesn't need to be public. It doesn't need to be broadcast to everybody."I feel I'm performing better than ever. And it's as simple as that really. Performance speaks for everything."Russell is fourth in the drivers' championship, nine points behind Verstappen, and won last month's Canadian Grand Prix.Williams driver Alex Albon, who is a friend of Russell and a former team-mate of Verstappen, pointed to Russell's performance as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for three years, as well as the fact he has convincingly been ahead of his new team-mate Kimi Antonelli this season.Albon said in a BBC Sport interview: "George is somehow underrated. I'm not just defending a friend here, but I don't know a driver who can beat a seven-time world champion and be not sure of a seat."He's doing a fantastic year this year as well."And as much as Kimi's getting praise, George is still beating him pretty convincingly. So I guess you can sound me standing up for a friend of mine. But even if he wasn't my friend, I'd still be saying the same words."I just hope the delay's coming from him asking for a lot of money. And if he is, he deserves it."Otherwise, George is actually one of the most adaptable drivers on the grid. And wherever it ends up being, I think he should be considered as at the very least a top-three driver on the grid."
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BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
Brook and Root steady England after India's new-ball burst
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Update: Date: 18:57 BST 3 July Title: 'Not fussed what's said outside' Content: England coach Jeetan Patel, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: "The new ball tonight did a little bit and we got it to go as well, so it feels like a little bit of the new ball working at the moment but the boys put in some graft and 150 overs in the dirt takes a lot out of people." Reflecting on the toss: "We won't. I don't think you reflect on what's happened. Hindsight's hindsight. We decided to bowl and we'll stick by that. On the first day it showed enough for us and we created a lot of opportunities and it didn't go our way. The day might've looked different yesterday and this morning if we got those decisions. "People are going to look at any scorecard and make a decision on what they're going to think. I'm not really fussed and I don't think any of us are fussed about what's said outside of the group." On the group's fitness: "The fitness is alright, the boys are just tired. It's taken a lot out of the boys. It was a longer spell than I thought Brooky [Harry Brook] would've bowled." Update: Date: 18:53 BST 3 July Title: Post Content: England suffered a top-order wobble when Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope made ducks and were swiftly followed back into the pavilion by Zak Crawley. However, Joe Root and Harry Brook steadied the ship somewhat. Even if Brook's aggressive approach was questioned at times. They will resume unbeaten on 18 and 30 respectively on Friday. This video can not be played India take two wickets in two balls as England fall to 13-2 This video can not be played Crawley is caught by Nair off the bowling of Siraj Update: Date: 18:52 BST 3 July Title: Get Involved Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) This is the hole England would have found themselves in at Headlingley had it not been for the obliging Indian collapse. This time it went to script. Simon, Hackney Update: Date: 18:50 BST 3 July Title: Post Content: Steven FinnFormer England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra The fact that this felt like quite a long, slow innings when India scored at almost four an over is strange looking back now, but that was tough Test match cricket. That intensity is what makes me worry about players coming into Test matches without the proper preparation beforehand. Update: Date: 18:50 BST 3 July Title: Post Content: Of course, we should not forget that earlier today Shubman Gill produced a stellar innings as he made the top score by an Indian in England with his majestic 269. This video can not be played Gill reaches 250 runs against England This video can not be played Vaughan analysis of Gill's batting 'masterclass' Update: Date: 18:49 BST 3 July Title: Get Involved Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) I think the pile-on merchants should just take a step back and reflect on what this England team are capable of doing in turning round what seems to be a slam dunk defeat into a victory. It's day two for goodness sake!! Neil from Chester. Update: Date: 18:46 BST 3 July Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special So far in this Bazball era they either blow teams away, chase brilliant or they get hammered. They don't play the boring draw because they've never had to. I'll be intrigued to see what happens if England lose a few quick ones tomorrow and if they think we have to dig deep. Update: Date: 18:45 BST 3 July Title: Get Involved Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) The crazy thing about Bazball is that nobody knows whether 77-3 at the end of the second day in response to 587 is a good day or not. From Peter Price in Morecambe Update: Date: 18:40 BST 3 July Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special I'm not too sure what England will be thinking. I hope Ben Stokes is thinking, 'we should've batted first'. The way that England bowled today was a slight concern. There were a few things I saw in the field which made me think this looks a bit ominous going forward. Sometimes you bat first to grind the opposition into the dirt and that's what England looked like. They played three tired shots. It couldn't have gone any better for India. They got lucky because Shubman Gill wanted to bowl first and I don't know why you would even consider that. Update: Date: 18:39 BST 3 July Title: Post Content: India captain Shubman Gill speaking to Sky Sports: "Good position to be in with England three down. Hopefully we get a good start tomorrow." On his batting form: "I worked on a few things before the series and after the IPL. Looking at the results, those things are working for me." On what India worked on after the first Test: "Getting the catches was really good confidence for us. Fielding is something we spoke about going into this match. If we were half as good [at Headingley], the result would have been different." Update: Date: 18:35 BST 3 July Title: England 77-3 at stumps Content: Harry Brook sees off the final delivery. That's stumps. India's day, without any shadow of a doubt. Update: Date: 18:35 BST 3 July Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special Harry Brook does well not to stand on his stumps there. 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Update: Date: 18:31 BST 3 July Title: Get Involved Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply) Ollie Pope, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir - none of them are good enough for Test cricket. I don't care about Pope's hundreds, he's shockingly inconsistent. Drop them all for the next Test and start building a team that can actually complete Down Under. Brett, Leeds Update: Date: 19 overs Title: Eng 72-3 Content: Despite Harry Brook's procrastination, India manage to get round quickly enough to get one more over in. To be bowled by Prasidh Krishna. Update: Date: 18.4 overs Title: Eng 72-3 Content: Harry Brook is backing away to leg between deliveries from Ravindra Jadeja, trying to ensure this is the last over. But he gets a ticking off from the square-leg umpire. Update: Date: 18:28 BST 3 July Title: Post Content: Michael VaughanFormer England captain on BBC Test Match Special We all know England don't play for draws. India look like they're going to dangle the carrot and not let them score at five or six an over.
The Guardian
13 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Digested week: Wimbledon joy and the canny PR of the Dalai Lama
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Oh, to have the confidence of the Dalai Lama that we'll all get a second go-around at this. Ahead of his 90th birthday this weekend, the Tibetan spiritual leader discussed arrangements for his successor, by which, per Buddhist beliefs, he means the body into which he will be reincarnated. This is as much a political as a spiritual consideration and in his address, the Dalai Lama pushed back against the Chinese government's insistence on preapproving the reincarnation, remaining firm that when the time comes, he'll be reincarnated in line with Tibetan tradition and with no interference from Beijing. He has also dangled some spoilers, suggesting, tantalisingly, that the new Dalai Lama may not be a baby, as he was, and – in what would represent a reboot more shocking than the new Dr Who and Ghostbusters combined – may not even be male. Which goes to show that even spiritual leaders these days have a canny knack for PR.
BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
A3 in Surrey to close for footbridge installation
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