George Russell is not worried about the possibility of Mercedes signing Max Verstappen in 2027, despite ongoing speculation about the Dutchman’s future at Red Bull.
Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team boss and part-owner, has openly admitted to trying to bring Verstappen into the team before. However, those attempts never got far since Verstappen wasn’t able to activate any of his release clauses while under contract with Red Bull.
Verstappen might have a way out at the end of 2026. The clause would become active if he is outside the top two in the drivers’ standings by mid-season, giving him until October to make a decision.
Red Bull’s rough start this season hasn’t helped matters either. The RB22 has been plagued by balance issues, putting pressure on Verstappen’s choice. He’s even hinted that he might retire from F1 altogether after 2026.
Before Verstappen hinted at retirement during the Japanese Grand Prix, Wolff had already said Mercedes wouldn’t be pursuing him for 2027, citing confidence in Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. However, reports have since indicated that Wolff remains interested in bringing Verstappen on board.
Despite the speculation, Russell doesn’t see any reason to worry about Verstappen joining the team. Although his contract only runs through 2026, he’s confident that a performance-based clause will keep him in place beyond that.
“Other than me announcing it here on your camera now, there is nothing to be concerned about,” Russell told BBC Sport. “Of course, there are options [in my contract], but they are performance-based.
“At the moment, the performance is very strong so things will definitely be continuing. Yes [the clause is based on the 2026 F1 drivers’ championship].”
There has been some talk that Russell would need to win the 2026 title to activate a one-year extension with Mercedes. But his comments suggest that the terms might not be as demanding as needing to become champion outright.
This year, Antonelli and Russell have started well while Verstappen has struggled early on. After three races, Antonelli leads with 72 points and Russell follows with 63. Verstappen sits ninth overall with just 12 points after finishing seventh in two of those three races.
Even if Verstappen becomes available, rumours linking him to Mercedes won’t go away easily. Wolff confirmed he spoke with Verstappen’s manager back in 2025 when a move seemed possible and won’t want to miss out if another opportunity arises.
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