P1racenews AI automatic summary:
George Russell receives critical advice if Max Verstappen joins Mercedes
Nigel Mansell has advised George Russell to work hard to beat Max Verstappen if they become Mercedes teammates in 2025. Mercedes is pursuing Verstappen for 2026, leaving Russell and current teammate Kimi Antonelli out of contract for the upcoming season. Russell is confident about his future at Mercedes in 2026 and doesn’t feel pressured to make any immediate decisions. During his time as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate, Russell outperformed Hamilton in qualifying and races, though Hamilton scored more points. Mansell emphasized the importance of Russell maintaining his competitive edge when partnered with a world champion like Verstappen, drawing from his own experiences racing alongside multiple world champions. Despite the challenges, Mansell praised Russell’s performance and work ethic from last year.
