19 June 2024 , 11:09
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George Russell's Mercedes future could be at risk if the Silver Arrows convince Max Verstappen to join.
Russell has been backed by team boss Toto Wolff to lead Mercedes into the future when Lewis Hamilton leaves at the end of this season. But it remains to be seen who the Briton will be partnered with from next year.
It seems likely that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be promoted from Formula 2, given the extensive testing programme the Italian teenager has been given by Mercedes, but Wolff still hasn't given up on the idea of tempting Verstappen to quit Red Bull. However, in the unlikely event the Dutchman joins Mercedes for next year, former F1 racer Ralf Schumacher thinks Russell would face a fight for his future with the team.
The Sky Germany pundit said: "If Max Verstappen really decides to leave Red Bull, I can imagine that there will be a seat for him at Mercedes.
"Then it could be rather bad for George Russell. He is, or was, a super talent, but he also makes a lot of mistakes. If a world champion is on the market, I can imagine that George Russell's job could also be in danger."
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Russell, naturally, has plenty of confidence in his ability and has already said he is open to the idea of going up against Verstappen in the same team. More than that, he said he would relish the prospect of testing himself against the Dutchman.
The 26-year-old said: "Toto is always keeping me up to date. He doesn't need to ask my view or my opinion, I've made it clear that I'd welcome anybody. I think having chance to sign someone like Max, every team would go for it and as I've said before, I'd love to have that opportunity to go against Max.
Ralf Schumacher thinks George Russell's Mercedes future would be threatened by Max Verstappen's arrival (Getty Images)"I feel privileged to have the chance to be team-mates with Lewis, who is statistically the greatest driver of all time and week-in, week-out battling out with him. So to get the chance to do that with someone like Max would be great for me, personally."
And Russell baulked at the suggestion that he would become Mercedes' second driver if Verstappen signed with the Silver Arrows, adding: "I think I've fared pretty well against [Hamilton], so I don't think I need to prove anything to Mercedes or to anybody else in this paddock - I know what I'm capable of and ultimately the results speak for themselves.
"Nobody knows who's the best driver out there. You can only go as fast as your car allows you so everyone's judged on their team-mate and I feel like I've got a pretty good team-mate. I want to prove more, I want to show more of course and I want to fight for championships but having been team-mates with Lewis now for three years I don't feel that I need to prove my worth."