Undoubtedly, the breach opened by the Italian press regarding the possible discussions taking place between Mercedes and the four-time world champion Max Verstappen has enough to shake up the world of Formula 1 a few days before the British Grand Prix. At Silverstone, where the team with the star has won so many victories through Lewis Hamilton, local land for George Russell, the debates quickly turned around this hot topic at the press conference.
In this case, the pilot passed by Williams chose not to dodge the subject too much. Although he was more tentative about the progress of concrete negotiations regarding his contract extension, the Briton wanted to appear particularly confident about his place within his current team. "I have no doubt at all, assured George Russell. A lot of the talk is behind the scenes, there's no need to reveal it publicly. I know where their loyalties lie. There have been rumors in the last few days, but it doesn't change anything for me. I feel better than ever. I'm focused on the track."
Mercedes ready to sacrifice Antonelli?
Quick to deflect the debate around a far from excluded extension concerning him, George Russell implicitly suggested that he would not be the driver put aside by Mercedes in the event of Max Verstappen's arrival. Pampered by Toto wolff, can Kimi Antonelli afford the opportunity that would present itself to the eight-time champions? "I've always said I want to continue with Mercedes. Toto (Wolff) has never let me down. He has to do what's best for the team. Whoever my future teammate is, I'll be happy." developed the British pilot"I don't have to worry because I don't think I'm going anywhere. On the other hand, whether my teammate leaves or not is none of my business."
In a context where Toto Wolff has assured that he is capable of managing the toughest driver duos, the experience of the collaboration between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg having served as a benchmark for the Austrian, yesterday's certainties may not be tomorrow's at Mercedes. Announced as potentially dominant for 2026, the team having already dominated the last decade may have to choose its dream duo with the greatest care. Will George Russell be among them? In any case, it is the "best chance of success" in the eyes of the person concerned, who does not hesitate to speak in the future tense, and not the conditional, when discussing this contentious situation.
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vincent moyet
04/07/2025 at 12:19 a.m.
It's not Mercedes who will want to part with him, but Verstappen who doesn't want competition in his own team. And it will be Antonelli who will be sacrificed to have to drive the car Max wanted and undriveable for anyone else, and history will be rewritten. It's obviously Wolff who will decide, but in my opinion hiring Verstappen is not the idea of the century, knowing that Russell has the skills to win a title, that he would be well supported by a promising Antonelli, and that Verstappen risks dragging the team into the same negative spiral as RBR.
CulottéRussel
03/07/2025 at 07:16 a.m.
He's going to be disappointed...
Yves-Henri RANDIER
03/07/2025 at 05:54 a.m.
A Verstappen/Russell duo at Brackley is hard to imagine given the background and antagonisms between the two drivers... but anything is possible in F2 with dollars, even if we can doubt that Toto would sacrifice Antonelli by placing him at Alpine Mercedes for example!