Mercedes Urged to Keep Russell Unless Verstappen Becomes Available
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.
Sky Sports pundit Anthony Davidson called for Mercedes to keep George Russell unless Red Bull driver Max Verstappen hits the driver market.
Russell's contract expires at the end of the season, although Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has reassured the media that a new deal is coming.
Paddock experts believe the delay in the contract renewal is tied to whether Verstappen hits the market.
Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing walk back from the Stewards Office during the F1...
Race winner George Russell of Great Britain and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Second placed Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing walk back from the Stewards Office during the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 15, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. More
Photo byOn the Sky broadcast, Davidson made it clear that the driver market can be unpredictable, but that Russell's performance and ties to Mercedes should see him stay for another season.
"I thought that Lewis Hamilton was gonna stay at Mercedes when there were rumors about him going to Ferrari, but so I was wrong there," Davidson said.
"So I don't wanna assume that Russell's gonna stay, but he's obviously very much part of the family.
"He's the original young driver that came up through that Young Driver Academy within Mercedes.
"They nurtured his career through F3, F2, and then into Williams with the Mercedes power unit, obviously, and then now into Mercedes. And he's a race winner. He's really driving a strong season this year.
"Unless Verstappen were to come on the market, you'd be a fool not to sign Russell."
"Unless Verstappen were to come onto the market, you'd be a fool not to sign Russell" 🗣️
Will George Russell be at Mercedes next year? 📝 pic.twitter.com/ezHBaXP1bU — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) June 26, 2025
During the Austrian Grand Prix race weekend, several reports are linking Mercedes to Verstappen as Red Bull struggles to perform this season.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has hinted at potential clauses in the Dutch driver's contract that could allow him to leave the team.
The RB-21 is lacking pace and comfort, proving to be a real handful for the drivers to handle.
Verstappen is delivering consistently title-winning performances, but the car's struggles have limited him to P3, 43 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
With a new set of regulations coming in 2026, Verstappen is rumored to be considering a move away from Red Bull if the team struggles, leaving Mercedes as the team best positioned to sign the four-time World Champion.
Mercedes invested several resources into their other driver, Kimi Antonelli, giving him a ton of testing and preparation before he ever drove in an F1 race.
Since the team devoted so much to the Italian prodigy, it is hard to see the team moving on from him, given the promise he has shown.
That leaves Russell potentially on the chopping block if Verstappen expresses his desire to leave.
More F1 news: How Lewis Hamilton Made the F1 Movie Production More Expensive
For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
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