George Russell insisted that he was never bothered or threatened by the possibility of four-time World Champion Max Verstappen joining Mercedes in the future. The British driver spoke on Thursday (20) during the press conference for the Dutch Grand Prix, just hours after Red Bull confirmed Verstappen’s contract renewal until 2030.
Verstappen had been heavily linked with Mercedes over recent months amid widespread discussions about his long-term future in Formula 1. The prospect of a switch to the Silver Arrows also sparked questions regarding Russell’s seat. When asked about the situation, Russell played down the noise and stressed that the topic only gained traction outside the team’s internal environment.
“It only really becomes a topic for us when we’re sitting in front of you, the media, and you want to ask those questions and understand what’s going on,” Russell explained.
“It was always very clear inside Mercedes what the reality was over the last two years, and perhaps those conversations were slightly more public than the talks his management team was having with McLaren, Ferrari, or any other team that might have been involved. So that’s part of the sport: drivers talk to different teams, teams talk to different drivers,” he added.
Russell further reassured that he never viewed Verstappen’s potential move as a threat to his position at Brackley.
“Everyone just has to figure out what their cards are, but yes, I never felt my seat was under threat. I felt 100% secure with Toto Wolff and with the team, and that obviously continues now,” he concluded.
Formula 1 returns this weekend, from August 21 to 23, for the Dutch Grand Prix — the 12th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all the track action live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Catch up on all the latest updates on our news page.
Russell further reassured that he never viewed Verstappen’s potential move as a threat to his position at Brackley.
“Everyone just has to figure out what their cards are, but yes, I never felt my seat was under threat. I felt 100% secure with Toto Wolff and with the team, and that obviously continues now,” he concluded.
Formula 1 returns this weekend, from August 21 to 23, for the Dutch Grand Prix — the 12th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all the track action live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Catch up on all the latest updates on our news page.
Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026
| Session | Local time (CEST) | UTC |
| Free Practice 1 | Friday, August 21 – 12:30 | 10:30 |
| Free Practice 2 | Friday, August 21 – 16:00 | 14:00 |
| Free Practice 3 | Saturday, August 22 – 11:30 | 09:30 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, August 22 – 15:00 | 13:00 |
| Race | Sunday, August 23 – 15:00 | 13:00 |
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. Why was Max Verstappen linked to Mercedes?
Sustained paddock rumors suggested Verstappen was looking at options outside Red Bull amidst internal changes, leading to intense speculation about a potential blockbuster move to Mercedes alongside or replacing existing drivers.
2. How long is Max Verstappen’s new Red Bull contract?
Red Bull officially announced a long-term extension keeping Verstappen tied to the Milton Keynes team through the end of the 2030 season.
3. Did George Russell ever feel his position at Mercedes was at risk?
No. Russell clearly stated that he felt “100% secure” with Team Principal Toto Wolff and the Mercedes management throughout the rumors, regarding the media focus as normal external noise in Formula 1.
