Nico Rosberg has issued a warning to George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli that their future at Mercedes is not yet secure, despite the team confirming them for their 2025 line-up. The former Mercedes driver speculates that one of the two could be replaced by Max Verstappen in 2026, should Red Bull’s issues persist.
Mercedes confirmed in Monza that Formula 2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli will succeed Lewis Hamilton at the German racing team in 2025. This announcement has quelled rumors about Mercedes’ near future, but according to former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, George Russell in particular should not rest on his laurels.
“George is not safe at all, because Toto still wants Max,” Rosberg told Sky Sports. “He will try again for 2026, because ‘giving up’ is not in Toto’s vocabulary. If Max becomes available, and I think it’s a possibility, then next year it’s a shootout between George and Kimi.”
Pressure on Russell
Although Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, Rosberg believes the team’s ongoing performance slump could drive the Dutch driver into Wolff’s arms. This would be particularly bad news for Russell. “The pressure on George is high, because he has everything to lose. He should be leading internally within the team, because Kimi is eighteen and he is completely new and in a high-pressure situation. So it’s not an easy situation for George,” concludes Rosberg.
