P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ralf Schumacher feels that George Russell’s days at Mercedes could be numbered if Max Verstappen opts to leave Red Bull.
Former F1 driver and current pundit Ralf Schumacher is concerned about George Russell’s future at Mercedes if Max Verstappen leaves Red Bull. Schumacher believes that with Toto Wolff being a fan of Verstappen, it could put Russell’s position at risk as the team’s lead driver in 2025. He also suggests that Mercedes’ young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli could be considered for a promotion from F2, potentially affecting Russell’s status further. Schumacher speculates that if Verstappen becomes available, Mercedes would likely try to pair him with Antonelli, potentially replacing Russell. Schumacher points out mistakes as a weakness for Russell and believes that Verstappen could have won in Montreal had he been in the Mercedes. He emphasizes the importance of having a world champion like Verstappen to lead Mercedes, especially with Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari. Schumacher sees Verstappen as a strong, competitive, and likable candidate for Mercedes, indicating a potential strategic move by the team towards him.
