George Russell has expressed he is feeling no extra pressure following rumours that Max Verstappen could be poached by Mercedes for the 2026 season.
Throughout last year's campaign, Verstappen was linked with a switch to Mercedes amid unrest at the Red Bull team.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff publicly pursued Verstappen's signature after Lewis Hamilton announced his decision to join Ferrari. Despite failing to lure the Dutchman, Wolff highlighted he had a feeling their paths would cross in the future.
Verstappen has continued to be linked with Mercedes for 2026 when new technical regulations will come into play.
Should he be signed, his arrival would come at the expense of Russell or new team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
However, Russell has asserted his place at Mercedes does not feel under threat by Verstappen.
“I don't think there's any pressure whatsoever," he told BBC Sport.
“All I need to do is continue doing what I'm doing, continue doing what I've done my whole career.
“So that changes nothing. And it's not even something I'm thinking about.”
Russell is entering his seventh F1 season and his fourth with Mercedes after joining the squad in 2022.
The Briton has stepped into a team leader role this year following Hamilton's exit and asserted he has no doubts over his abilities.
“I 100% back myself,” he said. “It's as simple as that. You perform and everything will be there for you.
“I want to go up against the best. I don't feel that my ability is in question.”
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