George Russell has vowed he’s never been “worried” that he could lose his Formula 1 seat at Mercedes, despite rumours about Max Verstappen moving to the team.
Red Bull’s initial struggles in the 2025 campaign prompted renewed speculation to emerge about Verstappen’s prospects and whether he could opt to go elsewhere.
The gossip ramped up prior to the Austrian Grand Prix when Russell revealed that Verstappen’s camp had been holding discussions with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
However, Verstappen repledged his commitment to Red Bull over the summer, with Mercedes then announcing Russell would be retained with Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
But while a link between Verstappen and Mercedes is bound to arise again at some stage, Russell has expressed that he has never retained concerns about his spot.
“I’m not worried about that, that I could lose my seat,” Russell told Auto Motor und Sport.
“As a team you obviously want to have the best possible driver duo in the car, so you want the best drivers you can get on the market.
“Verstappen is simply the best driver on the grid at the moment.”
Russell acknowledges potential Mercedes reservations over Verstappen partnership
Russell has been consistent in the stance that he would welcome the chance to go up against Verstappen with equal equipment in the same team at some stage.
The Briton has recognised that the likelihood that there would be tension and collisions between the pair, though, could lead to reservations on the Mercedes side.
“Whichever way you look at it, when you put the best drivers side by side, sooner or later a confrontation is inevitable,” added Russell.
“But [how] a team like Mercedes used to have [it] with Lewis [Hamilton] and Valtteri [Bottas] is perfect.”
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