George Russell 'in talks' for new F1 team if Max Verstappen heads to Mercedes
Martin Brundle has claimed that George Russell is "making contact with other teams" amid suggestions that Max Verstappen could join Mercedes. Toto Wolff confirmed at the Austrian Grand Prix that Mercedes were considering a move for the Dutchman.
"It's only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing," Wolff said. "As a team principal responsible for the best car brand in the world it is clear you're exploring what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future."
Russell, meanwhile, is out of contract at the end of the season and Brundle has revealed that the Brit has already contacted other teams about a potential move. Sky in Italy are reporting that Vertstappen is open to joining Mercedes.
And when asked about the reports and whether Verstappen joining Mercedes would mean Russell ends up leaving the team, Brundle told Sky Sports F1: "I think it would. I think Mercedes and Toto, in particular, are so invested in Kimi Antonelli as the future star and I know that George has been making contact with other teams.
"Would they want to risk putting Antonelli, their future star, up against Max Verstappen? Max has broken a lot of team-mates because of speed. Would they want to lose George Russell? One of their own, who they manage.
"And Max comes with a little bit of baggage - it's not the easiest group to handle. And he's broken his team-mates.
"We'll have to wait and see exactly how that plays out. But I can see why… if you're running a Formula 1 team and Verstappen is in the marketplace, you've got to consider hiring him."
Brundle also believes that Red Bull would be left in a "pretty dire" situation if Verstappen were to jump ship, adding: "What do we know that's factual? George Russell has not been announced for next year, and that's highly unusual because he's doing a brilliant job for Mercedes.
"He's a long-standing Mercedes driver and he's picked up the mantle beautifully after Lewis Hamilton's exit. So, for him to be hanging there still without clarity as we head into the halfway point of the season is unusual.
"And nobody is absolutely, categorically denying that Max Verstappen is talking to Mercedes - that's Mercedes or team Verstappen, so something's up. You have a thing called the Contract Recognition Board in F1 where everybody's contract is lodged centrally in Switzerland, and any disputes are handled like that.
"But can you keep an unhappy driver in the seat? From Mercedes' point of view, it would not only give them the fastest driver on the grid right now, it also takes him away from Red Bull. And if you took Verstappen out of Red Bull's results in recent seasons, that would look pretty dire."
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