George Russell reflects on the moment he inadvertently fueled rumors about a potential move by Max Verstappen to Mercedes. The British driver had no idea that the talks between his team and the four-time world champion had not yet been made public. “I didn’t know it was a secret,” Russell admits candidly.
The possible transfer of Max Verstappen to Mercedes was a popular topic of speculation prior to the summer break. The four-time world champion has since confirmed he will remain with Red Bull. The rumors were sparked by George Russell’s revelation that his team was in talks with the Dutch driver.
“I didn’t know it was a secret,” the Mercedes driver admits candidly in Zandvoort. “Perhaps it was more of an open secret. However, I didn’t realize it wasn’t publicly known.”
‘Performing well is the most important thing’
With Verstappen’s announcement that he will not be moving to the Silver Arrows, Russell can breathe a sigh of relief. However, the Brit is still without a contract for 2026. According to multiple sources, Russell would like to sign a two-year contract extension, while team boss Toto Wolff prefers to keep the driver for one year. Russell, however, denies there is any disagreement between him and the Austrian. “Both a short and long-term contract have their advantages. This season has shown that performing well is everything. What ultimately is in your contract is just a number.”
