George Russell says Mercedes is in talks with Max Verstappen over a possible 2025 switch.
George Russell has confirmed what many suspected—Mercedes are speaking to Max Verstappen. The 26-year-old, who’s racing without a confirmed contract beyond next year, says he’s aware of the conversations but isn’t losing sleep over them.
Speaking to Sky Sports and the BBC, Russell made it clear that he trusts his work behind the wheel to speak for itself. “Toto has told me I’m performing as well as anyone,” he said. “There’s only one guy people might compare me to—and that’s Verstappen.”
Russell also hinted that Mercedes might simply be weighing all options: “There are two seats in a team. He has to think who those two are.”
Team principal Toto Wolff didn’t deny the Verstappen talks, but he wasn’t keen to dive into it publicly either. “People explore, people talk,” he said, adding that Mercedes still believes strongly in Russell.
“We haven’t given him a title-winning car in the last three years,” Wolff admitted. “But when we’ve been quick, he’s delivered wins.”
Asked directly if he’ll remain at Red Bull, Verstappen brushed it off: “That’s not on my mind. I’m just focused on driving and improving performance.”
That non-answer is only fuelling speculation, especially given Red Bull’s recent setbacks both on and off the track.
Red Bull hasn’t looked unbeatable lately. Since mid-2023, they’ve lost their dominance to McLaren. On top of that, key personnel have left—including Adrian Newey (now with Aston Martin) and strategist Will Courtenay (poached by McLaren).
Red Bull also faces a big challenge next year with new engine rules, where insiders believe Mercedes is already ahead.
Verstappen’s camp reportedly has friction with Red Bull boss Christian Horner, especially after last year’s internal investigations. Even though Horner was cleared, the trust may not have fully returned, especially with Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, being vocal in his criticism.
Russell and Verstappen don’t have the smoothest relationship. If the Dutchman were to join Mercedes, team harmony could be at risk. But with young talent Kimi Antonelli also on the rise within the team, there’s no shortage of future options for Wolff to consider.
Wolff has said the team and Russell have agreed on a timeline for contract talks, once the busy race calendar slows down. “We’ll get there,” he repeated. “He’s been with us since he was 16. It’s not just about wins—we know what he’s capable of.”
