George Russell Says Clash With Max Verstappen Would Be “Unavoidable”
George Russell has suggested that any scenario which sees him paired with Max Verstappen as a team-mate would almost certainly result in conflict, as speculation around Verstappen’s long-term Formula 1 future continues to swirl.
For much of the 2025 season, Verstappen’s commitment to Red Bull was the subject of intense debate. With Formula 1 preparing for a sweeping regulation overhaul in 2026, uncertainty over which teams would best adapt fuelled rumours that the reigning world champion could be tempted away from Milton Keynes. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was particularly vocal in his admiration for the Dutchman, openly acknowledging that the Silver Arrows would be interested should Verstappen become available.
At the time, Mercedes were widely tipped as one of the teams best positioned to excel under the new technical rules, which further strengthened the belief that Verstappen could consider a switch. However, following the summer break, the four-time world champion put the speculation to rest by confirming he would remain with Red Bull for the 2026 campaign.
That announcement triggered a domino effect at Mercedes, where both George Russell and teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli were subsequently handed contract extensions, securing the team’s driver line-up heading into the new era.
Despite the prolonged uncertainty, Russell insists he was never concerned about losing his seat. Speaking to Auto Motor und Sport, the British driver said he understood the realities of top-level Formula 1, where teams are always looking to assemble the strongest possible pairing.
“I was never worried about losing my seat,” Russell said. “If you’re running a top team, you want the best drivers available. Max is clearly the best driver on the grid right now.”
However, Russell acknowledged that placing two elite drivers together often leads to tension, regardless of the team involved. He suggested that conflict between two highly competitive personalities is almost impossible to avoid over time.
“No matter where you put two of the very best drivers together, a confrontation is inevitable sooner or later,” he explained. “That’s just the nature of the sport. A pairing like Mercedes had with Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas was ideal — fast, stable, and effective.”
Russell’s comments come against the backdrop of a strained relationship with Verstappen, which has been well documented over the past two seasons. Their rivalry intensified towards the end of the 2024 campaign, when Russell publicly accused Verstappen of “bullying” both on and off the track. Matters escalated further in 2025 when Verstappen appeared to deliberately collide with Russell during the Spanish Grand Prix, reigniting debate about whether the two could ever coexist within the same team.
That frosty dynamic was one of the reasons Verstappen was believed to be more strongly linked with replacing Russell rather than Antonelli, should a Mercedes seat have opened up. Many within the paddock felt that pairing Verstappen and Russell would be too volatile, even for a team as experienced as Mercedes.
Looking ahead, Russell’s remarks appear to cast doubt on the possibility of Verstappen joining Mercedes in 2027, unless relations between the two drivers dramatically improve. While Verstappen is contractually tied to Red Bull for 2026, it is widely believed that he will use the first season of the new regulations as a benchmark before committing to his long-term future.
If Red Bull fail to deliver a car capable of fighting consistently for wins and championships, Verstappen may be tempted to explore his options elsewhere. Mercedes, Ferrari, and potentially other frontrunners could all emerge as suitors should the Dutchman decide to move on.
Such a scenario would once again place pressure on Mercedes’ current driver pairing. Despite their new contracts, both Russell and Antonelli could find themselves under scrutiny if Verstappen becomes available for 2027. With Wolff’s long-standing admiration for Verstappen no secret, the prospect of a major shake-up cannot be entirely ruled out.
For now, however, Mercedes appear settled, Red Bull retain their star driver, and the sport waits to see which teams will emerge strongest under the new rules — a factor that may ultimately decide where Max Verstappen’s future lies.
