P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has claimed that his seat with Mercedes was not under threat had Max Verstappen joined the team from F1 rivals Red Bull.
George Russell has stated that his Mercedes seat was not at risk if Max Verstappen had joined the team from Red Bull in Formula 1. The speculation of Verstappen switching to Mercedes was a major topic during the summer, leading to discussions about Russell’s contract. It was rumored that Toto Wolff had to choose between pursuing Verstappen or committing to Russell, as Russell’s new team-mate, rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, was seen as a future prospect. Russell clarified that if Verstappen had joined, it would have been Antonelli who made way, not Russell. Both Russell and Antonelli are expected to stay with Mercedes for 2026, with ongoing positive negotiations for Russell’s contract extension. Russell denied leaking information about Verstappen, attributing it to common knowledge about talks between Verstappen and Mercedes.
