George Russell says he expects to stay at Mercedes despite signs Max Verstappen could join
SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — George Russell says there's an 'exceptionally low' chance he'll leave Mercedes next year, even after he claimed the team was holding talks with Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen.
Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, Russell said he was confident of staying with Mercedes and argued that changing drivers would risk the team's competitiveness when sweeping rule changes come in 2026.
Russell caused a stir last week when he suggested to broadcaster Sky Sports that 'conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing' and were a reason why he had yet to renew his contract for 2026.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has not denied interest in four-time champion Verstappen. The Dutch driver himself has declined to comment on his future with Red Bull beyond 2025.
'I want to continue with Mercedes into the future," Russell said Thursday. '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 teammate will be, it doesn't concern me either. So, just focus on the driving.'
Russell added: 'I am loyal to Mercedes. At the end of the day, everything will work itself out. And the likelihood I'm not at Mercedes next year, I think is exceptionally low.'
With 'so many unknowns' about next year's rule changes, Russell said, 'I think for us, from both sides, our best opportunity of winning is to continue as we are."
Russell is fourth in the F1 standings and took Mercedes' only win of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix last month. His Mercedes teammate is 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli, who's had an impressive first season in F1.
Verstappen on Thursday said he had 'nothing else to add' since last week in Austria, when he did not confirm he'd stay with Red Bull.
Verstappen also declined to comment on any interest from Mercedes or whether his contract — which runs through 2028 — includes performance-related clauses that could offer him a way out of Red Bull this year.
Verstappen did, however, rule out the possibility of taking a break from F1 to explore his interest in other racing series.
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
recommended
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Haas F1 Team Receives Purchase Offers: 'Really pushing'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has opened up on the numerous offers people made in the last 18 months to purchase the American outfit, with some even "pushing" to seal a deal, as Haas enters its tenth year in Formula One. He also highlighted the role of team owner Gene Haas and his dedication to keeping the team on the F1 grid. Komatsu has been a part of Haas since its F1 journey began in 2016, standing by through its highs and lows. The team witnessed huge challenges in the Covid-19-affected year of 2020, with struggles continuing through to the 2023 season when Haas finished last in the Constructors' Championship. Then-team principal Guenther Steiner was ousted ahead of the 2024 season, the year in which Haas witnessed significant progress under Komatsu. The managerial changes and failures from 2023 prompted several parties to approach Gene with offers to buy the team. However, Komatsu emphasized that Gene is passionate about F1 and has no interest in selling the team. Haas F1 Team's British driver Oliver Bearman takes part in the first practice session ahead of the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 4,... Haas F1 Team's British driver Oliver Bearman takes part in the first practice session ahead of the Formula One British Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England, on July 4, 2025. More BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images Opening up on his upcoming run with Gene at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a Haas VF-23 F1 car to celebrate the team's tenth anniversary, Komatsu said ahead of the British GP: "This year when he [Gene] came to Miami, I could see that he actually enjoyed just being there. "He always asks lots of technical questions because he's interested, but that hasn't changed. On top of that, he was just enjoying the occasion. "I thought, wow, I'm going to ask him if he wants to drive in Goodwood. He didn't know much about Goodwood, but now he's driving, he read about it, and he's really excited for him to again experience things like that." Addressing the pushy offers that came Gene's way to acquire Haas, Komatsu added: "Honestly, he's seen lots of changes. He's so engaged now. He understands the details as well. What's the best way to put it? He's always been very passionate about the sport and the result. He always wants us to improve, which is what we need from the owner. He was always behind us. "I don't know everything, but in the last 18 months he's had numerous offers to buy the team. He's not interested. He really enjoys being the owner of the F1 team. Currently one out of 10, from next year one out of 11. That's such a privileged position to be in. "He came in at a time when F1 wasn't like this. He stuck with us during such a difficult period of COVID. Now he's enjoying it. "Honestly, Gene's so committed. He's coming here [to Silverstone], obviously. He's arriving Friday or tomorrow and then staying for Goodwood. He's enjoying it. That's the main thing. "We are grateful that we have such a passionate owner, so committed. He's not interested in selling at all. I can tell you recently I had some people really pushing to buy it, [Gene's] not interested. He got even annoyed that these guys are asking so many times."
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Lewis Hamilton Reveals Advice he Would Give Max Verstappen for Mercedes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has opened up on the advice he would give Max Verstappen about his former team, Mercedes, considering the rumors about Verstappen's ongoing talks with the Brackley-based outfit. The speculation erupted after George Russell revealed that discussions on his Mercedes contract extension were delayed due to ongoing talks between Mercedes and the four-time world champion. Notably, Russell's Mercedes contract is set to expire at the end of this year. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff acknowledged the interest in having Verstappen on board his team but revealed a very low probability of a move happening next year. Wolff emphasized that Russell and Kimi Antonelli would continue racing for Mercedes in 2026, but he didn't hesitate to admit that Verstappen would remain on his radar for the long-term future. Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari speaks with Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in Parc ferme during the Sprint/qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International... Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari speaks with Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing in Parc ferme during the Sprint/qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China. MoreWith Russell yet to sign an extension, speculation about Verstappen's potential Mercedes switch continues to swirl. As F1 heads to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix this weekend, Hamilton was asked if he would recommend Verstappen to join Mercedes if he were asked for his opinion. The 40-year-old driver gave a positive reply and remarked that he would be interested to see what unfolds in the future. He said: "Of course. If someone, anyone, was going to ask me about Mercedes, it's an amazing team also with the passion, they've got great personnel, it's a great factory, great environment to work in. "I'll be interested to see what happens." Hamilton didn't hold himself back from praising Red Bull, and explained how he had misunderstood the team many years ago when he was a staunch Mercedes fan. He added: "I mean, he's coming from a great team and I think many, many years ago I was asked [about Red Bull], I think I was just so diehard Mercedes at the time, and I remember saying something about Red Bull being only a drinks company. "I always regretted it because I was just saying that because Mercedes at the time was just great. I was really just trying to gee up my team, but the truth is Red Bull have been an incredible team. "There's so many people there that are exceptional and they've dominated for years." Speaking on his home race this weekend, Hamilton admitted he was looking forward to the Silverstone magic with hopes of securing his first podium finish of the season. He said: "I'm hoping and praying, yes. There's always magic here in Silverstone, so I don't really have to hope for that in the sense that the crowd is incredible. "It's a very, very, very special place. And it always provides a special race, one way or the other. But I'm hoping that whether all sorts of things can help us, because we're obviously naturally not as strong as we used to be."
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Red Bull Boss Picks Max Verstappen's Replacement Amid Mercedes Rumors
Red Bull Boss Picks Max Verstappen's Replacement Amid Mercedes Rumors originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Red Bull boss Christian Horner may have just dropped the most unexpected name yet in Formula 1's swirling driver market drama. With Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull still the hottest topic in the paddock, especially as Mercedes continue to circle, Horner was asked directly if he had a 'Plan B' in case the reigning champion decides to jump ship. Advertisement His response? A cheeky point at McLaren CEO Zak Brown, standing right next to him, before blurting out: 'Oscar Piastri.' The moment, caught driving a media scrum at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix, set social media buzzing. Of course, Horner was joking, at least on the surface. But in a season where Verstappen's rumored exit clauses and Mercedes' aggressive interest are fuelling non-stop headlines, even tongue-in-cheek comments hit differently. Max Verstappen during FP3 at Canadian Kirouac-Imagn Images Piastri, currently locked in with McLaren, has emerged as one of the grid's most impressive young stars. The 24-year-old Australian sits first in the championship heading into Silverstone, just ahead of teammate Lando Norris, and has proven he's more than ready to fight for the title. Advertisement Meanwhile, Verstappen's own contract saga rumbles on. Despite being signed at Red Bull through 2028, performance-related clauses have left the door cracked open for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, especially if Verstappen were to slip outside the top four by the summer break. For now, Horner insists there's 'no reason to worry,' reiterating that Verstappen is committed to Red Bull. Still, his playful nidge at Brown shows how alive the intrigue truly is. In a silly season already overflowing with twists, even offhand jokes keep the rumor mill roaring. Related: Zak Brown Shows Off $3 Million McLaren Speedtail at British GP This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
