George Russell faces mounting pressure at Mercedes with Toto Wolff quietly exploring a blockbuster move for Max Verstappen in 2026.
Russell may have shown solid early form in the 2025 Formula 1 season, but Ralf Schumacher believes it won’t be enough to secure his future with Mercedes unless he steps it up.
Speculation is growing that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is still quietly pursuing Max Verstappen for 2026. Meanwhile, Russell’s contract extension remains unsigned.
While Russell has been praised for his understated but steady performances following Lewis Hamilton’s departure, Wolff recently called him the team’s “silent hero” of the season—delivering “exactly as expected.”
Still, Schumacher wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Russell’s mistakes in Suzuka qualifying weren’t huge, but they were costly,” he said. “It was classic Russell—quick, full of potential—but still making small errors that matter.”
According to Schumacher, Russell botched his key qualifying lap in the first sector, missing out on a much stronger grid position and race result.
“The car had the performance,” he added. “For Kimi Antonelli, it’s too early to expect perfection, but he did a solid job overall. Russell should be leading by example.”
And the warning was clear: if things continue this way, Russell’s place in the team could be in jeopardy.
“To stay in that seat, he has to show more. That’s what separates champions from the rest.”
Schumacher pointed to Verstappen’s flawless pole-to-win drive in a car that wasn’t necessarily the best on the grid.
“Max just brought it home without a single mistake,” he said. “That’s the standard Russell needs to meet if he wants to stay at Mercedes.”
“Toto has to look at him and think, ‘This is my guy—the one who can fight for championships and extract the maximum from the car.’ Because if Verstappen is on the table, there’s no doubt about it. Even if Max comes at a premium.”
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Can Russell Convince Wolff He’s Mercedes’ Future Star?
Can Russell Convince Wolff He’s Mercedes’ Future Star?