Max Verstappen: Mercedes will be motivated by landing blow to Red Bull with blockbuster signing, says Martin Brundle | F1 News
Mercedes will be motivated by the fact that the signature of Max Verstappen by Red Bull would leave their Rival of Formula 1 in a “fairly disastrous” situation, according to Martin Brundle.
Mercedes driver George Russell said Sky Sports F1 During the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, his own contract extension was retained due to the team’s interest in Verstappen, before the boss of Silver Arrows, Toto Wolff, admitted that he was in “conversations” with the Dutch camp.
Heaven in Italy Wednesday, Verstappen was open to decision and that the talks intensify before the British Grand Prix this weekend.
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Sky Sports journalist, Craig Slater, explains everything you need to know about Mercedes’ interest in the world champion Verstappen
Sky Sports F1 Brundle said: “What do we know who is factual? George Russell was not announced for next year, and it’s very unusual because he does a brilliant job for Mercedes.
“He is a longtime Mercedes driver and he picked up the coat well after the release of Lewis Hamilton. So, so that he always hangs out there without clarity while we are heading in the half of the season is unusual.
“And nobody deny absolutely, categorically that Max Verstappen speaks to Mercedes – it’s Mercedes or Team Verstappen, so something is happening.”
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Addressing Sky Sports, George Russell admits that it is normal for Mercedes to have discussions with other pilots, but does not concern his strong performance this season
Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season, but it is understood that this has a liberation clause in his contract which would allow him to leave at the end of a season if he had to be outside the first four of the pilot championship during the summer vacation.
He seems to be on the verge of not failing in his attempt to win a fifth successive pilot title with McLaren dominating the 2025 season, but Verstappen is third – 36 points away from Charles Leclerc de Ferrari in fifth – with three races to do until the summer break.
Brundle added: “You have one thing called the F1 contract recognition council where everyone’s contract is deposited at the center in Switzerland, and all disputes are treated like that.
“But can you keep an unhappy driver in the seat?”
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Toto Wolff revealed that Mercedes was talking to Verstappen, but Russell confirmed that Russell will have a contract with the team next year
“From the point of view of Mercedes, he would not only give them the fastest driver of the grid at the moment, but that also keep him away from Red Bull.
“And if you have removed Red Bull’s results in recent seasons, it would look quite disastrous.”
Would Mercedes risk associating Antonelli with Verstappen?
In the event that Mercedes was to sign Verstappen, they needed to release Russell or his teammate Kimi Antonelli, the two having passed through the junior system of the team.
Antonelli was accelerated in one of the most desirable seats in F1 this season at the age of 18 only after Lewis Hamilton’s departure for Ferrari.
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Ride on board with Kimi Antonelli from Mercedes and Max Verstappen of Red Bull while they collide in the Austrian Grand Prix
Brundle said: “I think Mercedes and Toto, in particular, are so invested in Kimi Antonelli as a future star, and I know that George contacted other teams.
“Would they like to risk putting Antonelli, their future star, against Max Verstappen?” Max broke many equivalents due to speed.
“Would they like to lose George Russell?” One of their own, whom they manage.
“And Max comes with a little luggage – it’s not the easiest group to manage. And he broke his teammates.
We will have to wait and see exactly how it goes. But I can see why … if you run a Formula 1 team and Verstappen is on the market, you must consider hiring it. “”
British Sky Sports F1 GP schedule
Thursday July 3
2 p.m.: Pilot press conference
6 p.m.: The F1 show special
Friday July 4
8:45 am: F3 Practical
9:55 am: F2 Practical
12 noon: British GP Practice One (the session starts at 12:30 p.m.)
1:55 p.m.: F3 Qualification
2:50 p.m.: F2 qualification
3:35 p.m.: British GP Practice two (the session starts at 4 p.m.)
5:15 p.m.: The F1 show
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Return to some of the most dramatic moments over the years at the British Grand Prix
Saturday July 5
9:10 am: Sprint F3
11:15 p.m.: GP British GP Trois (session starts at 11:30 am)
1:10 p.m.: F2 Sprint
2:15 p.m.: British qualification accumulation GP *
3 p.m.: British GP Qualify *
4:55 p.m.: F4 Race 1
5:40 p.m.: Ted qualification notebook
Sunday July 6
8:15 am: F4 Race 2
9:25 am: F3 functionality breed
11 am: F2 Race Feature
1:30 p.m.: Grand Prix Sunday: British GP Build-Up *
3 p.m.: The British Grand Prix *
5 p.m.: Damy flag: British reaction GP *
6 p.m.: Ted * notebook
* Also on the main event of Sky Sports
The next stage of the Formula 1 season in 2025 is the big, the British Grand Prix in Silverstone – Live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase with coverage from Thursday to Sunday at 3 p.m. Stream Sky Sports with now – no contract, cancel at any time.
