George Russell: Max Verstappen to Mercedes speculation understandable – there are no hard feelings | F1 News

George Russell says that he has “no grudge” about speculation connecting Max Verstappen to Mercedes and is “without precipitation” with his own contractual negotiations to stay in the team.

Neither Russell nor his teammate Kimi Antonelli were confirmed to keep a Mercedes seat for 2026, and earlier this year, Speculation Verstappen could make a shock change in Mercedes after the disappointing start of the Red Bull season.

Since then, Red Bull has come closer to McLaren and Verstappen added to his victory in Suzuka with Victory in Imola, but he remains third in the pilot championship, 43 points behind the leader Oscar Pitri.

Last year, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff Sky Sports F1 Three months ago in March, a shock decision for the defending world champion was “not on the radar”.

Sky Sports News Understands Verstappen has a clause in his contract which will allow him to leave Red Bull after this season, in the improbable scenario, he is not in the top four of the pilot championship at the start of the F1 summer break, after the Hungarian Grand Prix on August 3.

Verstappen is currently 41 points ahead of Charles Leclerc, placed in the fifth, with Russell fourth in the standings.

“There was no resentment with any of the talks that went around, especially in Max,” said Russell after his triumph at the Canadian Grand Prix.

“As I said on several occasions, why would the teams be interested in Max? If each driver had no contract for next year, Max would be n ° 1 for each team. And it is understandable.

“But finally, there are two seats for each racing team. I knew that if I continued to play as I do, my position would not be threatened. So, I feel in a good place.”

Russell: I’m not talking to any other F1 team

Monday, Autosport Russell was targeted by Aston Martin to lead their rebirth from 2026, despite Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll with contracts for next season.

Speaking before this report was emerged, Russell insists that he sees his future in Mercedes.

“I am not talking with anyone else and the teams that have expressed their interest,” he said.

“I was open enough to say that my intentions are to stay with Mercedes. It has always been clear. And I am faithful to Mercedes. They have given me this chance to enter Formula 1.”

Russell added: “We are not in a hurry to make contractual negotiations. We want to win together, especially Kimi and I being teammates now.

“We get a result like Canada, both Mercedes junior drivers. We both do work in terms of performance. Why would you like to change something that works?”

Wolff: Russell contract “All in terms of”

Russell joined Mercedes de Williams in 2022 and asserted himself as the team’s main pilot after Lewis Hamilton’s departure at the end of last year.

The 27 -year -old scored only two points less than Hamilton during his three campaigns as a teammates and undoubtedly had the upper hand over the seventh world champion in their last season.

He continued this strong form this year with four podiums, as well as Mercedes’ first victory in 2025 at the Canadian Grand Prix.

“It has been so long with us,” said the director of the Mercedes Wolff team.

“He grew up and the steps he made with this young Williams driver, then coming to Mercedes at a difficult time, being tied with Lewis, and since Lewis left, being clearly the senior driver of the team, and that is natural.

“It is not as if there was politics. He just took the place he deserves and deserves. The atmosphere in the team is great, and we agree on a kind of calendar when we want to settle these things.

“With triplers who have moved away, then a race after the others in June and July, but we will get there.

“He has been a junior of Mercedes since the age of 2016. It does not depend if he wins a race or happens because we know he can.”

Requested by Sky Sports News At the first of the F1 Film on a new contract for Russell, Wolff concluded: “[It is] Everything on the plane “.

Brundle on the “perfect” performance of Russell Canada and its future

Martin Brundle of Sky Sports F1:

“Canada was George’s perfect performance. Pole position, the fastest tour, racing victory – quite poorly maintained.

“When George goes up like that, you are not wondering how he will face the pressure. You don’t even think about it.

“You know that he is not going to snatch his brakes or make an idiot error. It is on this and it has speed, consistency, self-confidence, and it returned to Canada.

“We saw last year, he has about the upper hand on Lewis. He prospered as a team leader. He is out of the shadow of Lewis, whom he always calls” the goat “, which I respect and said:” I learned from Lewis “.”

Brundle on the reasons why Mercedes has not yet agreed with a new contract with Russell:

“The former boss of McLaren, Ron Dennis, said:” What is the point of making a decision early if you have the upper hand on a contractual position? “It’s a bit like landing with a lot of track behind you.

“I suspect that they think it pushes George. Maybe they think:” George goes well in this environment, let’s not waste the track “.”

The next step for the Formula 1 2025 season is a return to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix, which is live on Sky Sports F1 from June 27 to 29. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract, cancel at any time.