A situation has been described which may spectacularly price George Russell his Mercedes future.
Russell’s present Mercedes contract expires on the finish of this season however he’ll reportedly pen profitable new phrases, in a transparent present of religion from the group.
Nonetheless, the continued doubt surrounding Max Verstappen’s future may have a knock-on impact.
“If Max Verstappen sprung into {the marketplace} I might be fairly nervous for George,” Martin Brundle instructed Sky Sports activities on the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
“Kimi Antonelli is clearly their man for the long run.
“There’s a whole lot of ‘ifs’ in there.
“George is doing an amazing job for them as their group chief.
“However Toto Wolff missed Max as soon as. I don’t suppose he’ll miss him a second time, ought to he get the chance.”
Would Mercedes bounce to signal Max Verstappen?
Russell, Verstappen
Mercedes notoriously missed the possibility to signal a teenage Verstappen earlier than he was snapped up by Pink Bull.
“Do I remorse lacking out on Max? Actually,” Mercedes group principal Wolff admitted in 2023.
“But it surely wasn’t an choice again within the day.”
Wolff met Jos Verstappen in 2014 about his gifted son. However Mercedes have been of their heyday with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg on the time.
Pink Bull moved swiftly to snap Verstappen up – and their resolution paid dividends as they ended Mercedes’ period of dominance collectively.
Final 12 months, Wolff once more spoke about the potential of signing Verstappen as a substitute for Ferrari-bound Hamilton.
That chance by no means got here to fruition, regardless of the tough interval at Pink Bull, so Wolff positioned his religion in rookie Antonelli.
Some F1 insiders advised that signing a rookie of Antonelli’s expertise was a lesson realized after not selecting up Verstappen.
Now a four-time F1 champion battling for a fifth this 12 months, Verstappen’s future is once more up for debate.
Helmut Marko has worryingly admitted that Pink Bull may lose their high driver until their struggling automotive lastly finds some efficiency to match McLaren.
Ralf Schumacher has boldly predicted a deadline, which is quick approaching, for Verstappen to stop Pink Bull.
Mercedes and Aston Martin would the plain touchdown spots if Verstappen did select to depart.
However the brand new contract which is reportedly on the desk for Russell at Mercedes complicates issues.
Contracts for F1 drivers can imply little or no when a group is intent upon a change however Mercedes have been clear of their religion in Russell, who was on the rostrum final weekend in Bahrain.
However would that change abruptly if Verstappen was out there?
