George Russell has granted his backing to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s public desire to partner Max Verstappen alongside him at the marque in Formula 1 from 2025.
Mercedes is assessing the candidates to replace the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton next term, but Wolff has expressed that Verstappen constitutes his leading option.
The Dutchman retains a deal with Red Bull through 2028 and is on course to win a fourth consecutive Drivers’ title this season with four wins from the first six rounds.
However, Wolff is aiming to capitalise on the apparent power struggle that has ensued at Red Bull over the recent months to prise Verstappen from the Austrian outfit.
Having competed against Hamilton across the past three seasons, Russell has reiterated that he would relish the chance to go up against the defending F1 champion.
When he was asked about the prospect of Verstappen moving to Mercedes next season a fortnight ago in Miami, Russell repeated: “I’d be all for it.
You know, coming into Mercedes in 2022 off the back of Lewis’s legendary years and victories, that was a huge task for anybody jumping into a team where he’s been for so long.
“I believe in myself, and you need to go up against the best in the same machinery and show what you have got, so I feel that having Lewis as my team-mate for the past three years…
He’s been a hell of a team-mate, such a great driver.
“And we push each other every single week and I think it’s fair to say that, so I will welcome Max, I want to go up against the best.
“Everybody wants to prove what they’ve got, so make it happen.”
Despite Mercedes languishing a seismic 175 points behind Red Bull, Wolff stated last month that there would be “other factors” that could entice Verstappen to move.
It is touted that one detail he was alluding to is the 2026 rules reset, as Red Bull’s desire to continue its dominance has been hit with the news Adrian Newey will leave.
Newey, who is F1’s most famed designer with 25 titles, has provided the ideas behind Red Bull’s recent pre-eminence but will leave the team in the first quarter of 2025.
“He’s somebody who I respect. He is a legend with everything that he’s achieved in the sport,” Russell said regarding the impact Newey departing could have on Red Bull.
“You know, it doesn’t change our life, unless there’s a secret and he is coming to Mercedes, who knows?
“So, I think it was great seeing a lot of loyalty for a long time with him being at the team for 20 years. Lewis has been with Mercedes for 12 years.
“Sometimes people need to change, a change is a fresh start for both parties and it will be interesting to see what happens next.”
