George Russell issues clear Max Verstappean seat threat response

George Russell has issued a clear response, insisting he is "not worried" about losing his seat to Max Verstappen, following a year full of rumours surrounding his position at Mercedes.

For much of the first half of the 2025 F1 season, Verstappen’s future at Red Bull looked uncertain. The outfit’s initial difficulties led to suggestions that the Dutchman could depart.

Prior to the four-time world champion declaring in Hungary that he would remain with Red Bull for 2026, Mercedes was the team he was most strongly linked with.

With the Silver Arrows having recently invested heavily in Kimi Antonelli’s development to bring him into F1, Russell’s seat was widely speculated to be at risk.

The Briton revealed in Austria that Mercedes had spoken to Verstappen, something he still believes is understandable given the Dutchman’s talent.

However, at no point, then or now, has Russell felt at risk of losing his seat with the Brackley-based outfit – Mercedes announced an extension of his contract in October.

Asked by Auto Motor und Sport if the Verstappen rumours unsettled him, Russell said: "I'm not worried about that, that I could lose my seat. 

"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." 

A future Russell-Verstappen partnership?

If Verstappen were to move to Mercedes and partner Russell, it would form one of the strongest driver line-ups in modern F1 history.

It is also a pairing that would likely see sparks fly between them, something the Briton believes Mercedes has the experience to manage.

"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 a team like Mercedes used to have with Lewis [Hamilton] and Valtteri [Bottas] is perfect."