P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell has been in fine form in F1 this season. According to Juan Pablo Montoya, he could soon be “just as good as” Max Verstappen.
Juan Pablo Montoya believes George Russell has the potential to match Max Verstappen’s skill level in Formula 1. Russell is currently negotiating a new contract with Mercedes, but the process is taking longer due to Toto Wolff’s pursuit of Verstappen. The prospect of luring Verstappen to Mercedes remains, especially with a new era in F1 approaching. Despite the delay, Montoya thinks Mercedes may not necessarily need Verstappen with Russell’s strong performances this season. Russell’s success is putting pressure on Mercedes to secure him for the future, potentially reshaping the team’s driver lineup.
