F1: Max Verstappen and George Russell, cross roads?

The English contract with Mercedes ends at the close of this year and the Dutch sounds to reach the arrows. What do they say from Red Bull?

Although Formula 1’s exercise 2025 consumed 8.33% of its tour, an issue that points to the closing of the season has already emerged: George Russell’s contract with Mercedes. The departure of Lewis Hamilton and the rise of the very young Kimi Antonelli to headline left the English as a clear pilot number 1 of the silver arrows, but his link ends on December 31 of this year. Amid the possible renewal, the name of Max Verstappen emerged, nothing less, as a possible replacement.

The Dutchman has a contract with Red Bull until 2028 inclusive, but in the fine letter of the link there are self -performance clauses, something usual in the tip pilots. Precisely, the chassis of the Milton Keynes team does not go through its best moment. Such is the case that on the last Thursday an emergency meeting was organized at the headquarters of the Team in which the tetracampeón, the engineers and the popes participated to try to find the correct evolution path of the RB21. To the current situation we must add a no less data: in 2026 Honda it will cease to be a supplier of Red Bull engines, whose cars will use their own drivers, developed in society with Ford. The next season will begin a new regulatory era, with new engines (the electrical power with combustion) will be equalized).

The competitiveness of that engine generates more doubts than certainties, while most bet that Mercedes will have the best power unit. There could arise a seductive alternative for Verstappen. In a recent interview with Formel1.de, Helmut Marko, sports advisor and strong man of Red Bull, acknowledged that there are clauses that would allow Max’s departure, but the tenor lowered the possibility. “Updates are necessary to ensure that Verstappen can win its fifth world championship. That is the great goal. The entire team is working on it with full dedication. Of course, all leading pilots have an output clause if the performance does not reach a certain level, but those clauses vary. At the moment, there is no problem, ”said the Austrian.

Marko also recognized that “Max is a very important part of our team. At this time, it is clearly the best, if not among the best of all time. And it is clear that we want to keep it. But the car has to be good enough for that. “And he asked for calm:” We are seconds in the World Cup, eight more points. “

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren, has a personal, and recognized river, with Christian Horner, director of Red Bull, And every time you can step your rivals a little, the climate. “I think Verstappen will go to the end of the year, probably to Mercedes,” said the American. Precisely the Woking team torted the Dutch to add it to Papaya cars, but they were frightened to know the salary intended.

Mercedes may not be the only possible path of Verstappen. Before the start of the season, a rumor arose that pointed to a possible offer of Aston Martin of 1,000 million euros for five seasons. While from the Lawrence Stroll team they denied it, it is also true that the English Team can also be a seductive chance for the tetracampeon, because from 2026 the green cars will be designed by Adrian Newey and will wear Honda engines, the combination with which Max won its four crowns.

To all this, What do they say from Mercedes? Toto Wolff wanted to placate all the noise, in China it filled Russell’s work with China and said: “The issue of the contract will be resolved soon. We intend to keep our pilots in the long term. We do not reveal the talks we have with our runners and that marks that we are going in the right direction. But each contract implies much beyond a guarantee that they will have the car. There are terms to discuss for the benefit of the pilot and the team. ”