George Russell issues staggering Max Verstappen to Mercedes revelation

George Russell has said he would be "happy" to have Max Verstappen as his team-mate at Mercedes, going so far as to say they are the line-up he would choose if he were Toto Wolff.

Whilst no slight on rookie Kimi Antonelli, the British driver underlined the point that the Red Bull star's exalted position in F1 would make him the number one option for any team competing in the championship.

Russell and Verstappen have clashed on a couple of occasions over the past year and there is evidently no love lost between them, but the Mercedes driver maintains he would go after the four-time drivers' champion if he were in Wolff's position of team principal.

That plays into the long-standing speculation tying Verstappen to a seat with Mercedes, something that has been heightened by Russell being out of contract at the end of the year.

When asked if he was growing bored of the persistent rumours linking the Dutchman to the Brackley-based team, or if he found them disrespectful, Russell denied on both counts.

"The truth is, no," he told Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo. "No, because the fact is, there are two seats in a Formula 1 team. And I've already said I'd be happy to be Verstappen's team-mate.

"But the fact is: why wouldn't a team want Verstappen? If I were Toto, and you had two choices... If you could have any driver and all the drivers were available, I would choose myself and I would choose Verstappen - if I were in Toto's shoes."

'It's not disrespectful, it's just the reality'

As far is Russell is concerned, Verstappen would slot into any line up on the grid.

The 27-year-old argued he would replace his former team-mate Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, but was less sure on who McLaren would sideline.

"So I don't see it as disrespectful," the three-time grand prix winner added. "That's how the sport goes.

"And Ferrari, if I could choose, would choose Verstappen and Leclerc. McLaren would probably choose Verstappen and... here it would perhaps be more challenging: Norris or Piastri.

"But if by 2026, every team could choose its drivers, Verstappen would be the number one choice for every team. So it's not disrespectful, it's just the reality."