15/04/2025 16:45
Martin Brundle is "quite worried" for George Russell's future at
Mercedes if Max Verstappen should decide to leave Red Bull.
Russell is out of contract at the end of the 2025 season and team
principal Toto Wolff flirted with the possibility of luring
Verstappen from Red Bull last year. Verstappen's current contract
expires at the end of 2028, but given the uncertainties around Red
Bull's form and its in-house engine project for next year, he could
opt to leave. If that were to happen and Verstappen agreed to join
Mercedes, the team would have to axe either Russell or his new
team-mate Kimi Antonelli. If Wolff was faced with that choice,
Brundle believes it could be Russell who would make way. "George
has been driving well all season, a little bit off the pace, but
he's been getting the best out of it, and his young team-mate Kimi
Antonelli is cruising up to his gearbox as well, keeping him on his
toes," Brundle explained on Sky Sports F1. "It is a great driver
line-up they have there, but George has just been out of frame,
like in Suzuka, it was the top three and George has been out of
frame, out of mind, but he has had a very solid season. "If Max
Verstappen was sprung onto the marketplace, I would be quite
worried for George actually. "Because Kimi is obviously their man
for the future, and it is a lot of ifs and George is doing a great
job as team leader, but Toto missed out on Max once, and I don't
think he'll miss a second time if he gets the opportunity."
However, following the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend, a report
emerged that claimed Russell is heading towards a Mercedes
extension. Such a deal would all but eliminate the short-term
possibility of Verstappen moving to Mercedes, given rookie
Antonelli is a long-term project for the German manufacturer.
