Russell’s situation took a fresh twist after his own claim that “ongoing” talks between Verstappen and Mercedes were influencing his wait for a new deal, team principal Toto Wolff and Verstappen yet to shut down the idea that this union could come to be for F1 2026.

George Russell has been affiliated with Mercedes since 2017 and has raced for its Formula 1 team since 2022. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull Racing through 2028. Russell insists that he has never entered into any discussions with other teams.

George Russell says the chances of him not being a Mercedes driver next year are “exceptionally low”, adding he expects Kimi Antonelli to remain as his team-mate.