Could Mercedes Drop Russell for Verstappen? A S… read more
As the Formula 1 paddock heads to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, attention has been drawn to Mercedes and a speculative yet intriguing question: could the team drop George Russell in favour of Max Verstappen for 2026? While it may sound harsh—especially given Russell’s stellar performances this season—the idea is not entirely beyond the realm of possibility.
Russell has been one of the most consistent and impressive drivers on the grid this year, delivering strong results and showing composure in high-pressure situations. Despite this, the shadow of Max Verstappen—widely considered the most complete driver in the sport—looms large. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has reportedly not ruled out the possibility of signing Verstappen, and conversations with the Dutchman’s camp have taken place, just as they did last season.
Russell himself acknowledged the speculation publicly before the Austrian Grand Prix, stating it was “only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing.” This candid admission has only intensified rumours of a potential shake-up at Mercedes. Verstappen, with three world titles and an unmatched dominance during Red Bull’s recent supremacy, represents the pinnacle of F1 talent. For a team like Mercedes, who are determined to return to title contention, signing Verstappen could be a game-changing move.
Should a deal materialize, the next question becomes who would partner Verstappen at Mercedes. The leading candidate appears to be young Italian Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes junior tipped as the team’s future star. With Antonelli’s rapid rise through the ranks and Wolff’s apparent belief in building a future-oriented team, the idea of a Verstappen–Antonelli pairing starts to look viable. In contrast, the idea of Verstappen and Russell sharing a garage seems less appealing due to reportedly tense relations between the two—fuelled by several on-track clashes and barbed exchanges.
If Russell were to be dropped, it would undeniably be harsh. He has been a team player, fast, and reliable. But as seen with Ferrari’s decision to part ways with Carlos Sainz to make room for Lewis Hamilton in 2025, Formula 1 often operates with ruthless logic. Teams make tough calls to ensure the best driver line-up that aligns with their ambitions. From Mercedes’ perspective, building a new era around Verstappen and Antonelli may simply make more strategic sense.
Meanwhile, questions surrounding Hamilton’s influence at Ferrari continue to surface. The British driver, who will race in front of his home crowd this weekend wearing Ferrari red for the first time, has often been heard on team radio questioning strategic decisions. This led some fans to speculate about tensions between Hamilton and his race engineer Riccardo Adami.
However, Hamilton has consistently downplayed these rumours. In Spain, he addressed the topic directly, saying: “Our relationship is great, no problems. We’re constantly learning more and more about each other.” He explained that they are working to align on communication and decision-making, noting that Adami has worked with several top drivers before. Ferrari officials back up this view, including team principal Fred Vasseur and deputy team principal Jerome d’Ambrosio.
The incident in Austria, where Hamilton questioned the call to pit early, was also clarified by the team. According to D’Ambrosio, there was no major disagreement—just a discussion on optimal timing. “It was more a matter of setting, so staying a few more laps,” he said. The team followed a standard optimal strategy, based on tyre data and race simulations. Hamilton, upon reviewing the data post-race, reportedly agreed that the strategy made sense.
Ultimately, the dynamics at both Mercedes and Ferrari reflect the high-stakes environment of Formula 1, where even minor decisions and comments are dissected. As the sport heads into its mid-season stretch, with the iconic Silverstone race looming, eyes will remain locked not just on the track action—but also on the bigger chess game unfolding behind the scenes.
