George Russell’s future with Mercedes is unclear, especially if Toto Wolff seizes a rare chance to sign Max Verstappen in 2026.
Despite his strong performances, George Russell’s long-term future at Mercedes F1 isn’t set in stone.
While 18-year-old rising star Kimi Antonelli already has a long-term commitment from Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, Russell’s contract is still up for renewal. And the timing raises questions.
Wolff has publicly praised Russell, calling him one of the top three drivers in Formula 1. Yet at the same time, he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of signing Max Verstappen for 2026.
Up until recently, Russell had played second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton. But with Hamilton heading to Ferrari in 2025, Russell is stepping into the spotlight—and pundits are starting to take serious notice.
“He’s not exactly the coolest guy, but he’s performing really well,” said former F1 driver and Dutch pundit Christijan Albers. “He’s consistent, always strong in qualifying—still Mr. Saturday. He was excellent again in China.”
So why the hesitation from Mercedes?
“If they really believed he was a superstar, they would’ve locked him in already,” Albers added. “Other top teams have their best drivers signed for the long haul.”
There may be a reason for the delay. Rumors suggest Toto Wolff is waiting to see how things unfold at Red Bull, particularly with Verstappen. Last year, Wolff reportedly offered Verstappen a staggering €100 million per year to join Mercedes for 2024—an offer Max turned down.
But the door might not be completely closed.
“If things fall apart at Red Bull, Toto will jump at the chance to sign Verstappen,” Albers believes. “If that happens, I don’t think Toto would pair him with Russell. And he certainly wouldn’t want to lose Antonelli after just one year.”
There’s also a personality clash to consider.
“Russell and Verstappen don’t get along at all,” Albers said. “It just wouldn’t work. Toto’s already teaming up with Zak Brown to disrupt Red Bull’s stability. They’re clearly focused on making life uncomfortable for Christian Horner.”
So what happens if Verstappen joins and Antonelli gets the second seat?
“In that case,” Albers concluded, “Russell could end up moving to Red Bull himself.”
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Russell’s Mercedes Seat in Peril if Verstappen Becomes Free Russell’s Mercedes Seat in Peril if Verstappen Becomes Free
