George Russell Welcomes Potential Max Verstappen Move to Mercedes Amid 2026 Regulation Changes

Mercedes driver George Russell has expressed his openness to having Max Verstappen as his teammate, amidst uncertainty over Verstappen's future at Red Bull with new regulations coming in 2026. Verstappen's father, Jos, is in talks with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, sparking speculation about a potential move.

Russell, 26, has stated that he would not shy away from the challenge of having Verstappen, also 26, join him at Mercedes. Speaking on the matter, Russell said, "I wouldn't shy away from jumping alongside Max. Nor would I shy away from him jumping in with us."

Verstappen, who has won three world championships to Russell's none, is currently signed with Red Bull until 2028. However, the upcoming 2026 regulations create uncertainty about which team will have the strongest car. Jos Verstappen's opposition to Red Bull's management and his openness to alternative career paths for his son further fuel the speculation.

Russell suggested that Verstappen might even consider taking a year off in 2026 to evaluate which team has the best car. He commented, "Max can take a year off for 2026 and see which the best team is. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he did that."

Despite his struggles to prove himself at Mercedes, with only one win in Brazil in 2022, Russell remains optimistic about the team's future. He leads Lewis Hamilton 7-1 in qualifying this season and by 54 to 42 points. Russell believes that Mercedes can turn a corner and become competitive again, citing McLaren's improvement as an example.

Russell also expressed his desire to become a world champion, acknowledging that Mercedes is not currently in a position to achieve that. He said, "I'm a loyal guy and Mercedes have given me the opportunity, but I want to be a world champion. That's not us at the moment."

The new regulations coming in 2026 have created uncertainty in the Formula 1 driver market. Verstappen's future at Red Bull is uncertain, and Russell believes that Mercedes can become competitive again. He is confident in his abilities and believes he can drive into his 40s like Fernando Alonso.

Key Takeaways

• George Russell open to having Max Verstappen as Mercedes teammate.
• Verstappen's father, Jos, in talks with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
• Russell suggests Verstappen might take a year off in 2026 to evaluate teams.
• Russell confident in Mercedes' potential to become competitive again.
• New 2026 regulations create uncertainty in Formula 1 driver market.