Russell: If any F1 team could sign Verstappen they'd 100% take it

Thursday, 07 March 2024 at 07:30

Any Formula 1 team would sign Max Verstappen given half the chance, says Mercedes driver George Russell amid continued speculation linking Red Bull's triple world champion to the German manufacturer to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen's father Jos has fallen out with Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who was cleared last week of misconduct after allegations against him by a female team employee.

Verstappen senior had told the Daily Mail that the sport's dominant team risked being torn apart and would "explode" if Horner stayed. He was also seen with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, an old friend, during the season-opening weekend in Bahrain.

This triggered doubts about his son's future despite Max having a contract with Red Bull until 2028. Meanwhile, Mercedes have a vacancy for 2025, alongside Russell following Hamilton's decision to switch to Ferrari.

On Wednesday in Jeddah, ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when asked by reporters whether he could see Verstappen joining him at Mercedes, Russell replied: "I think any team wants to have the best driver line-up possible.

"Right now Max is the best driver on the grid so if any team had a chance to sign Max, they'd 100% be taking it. I think the question's more on the other side, on his side and Red Bull's side," reckoned Russell.

Russell: You always want to go against the best

"Obviously so much going on there, we don't know what truly is going on behind closed doors and ultimately it's none of my business right now. It will be exciting," ventured Russell.

Verstappen won the last three F1 drivers' titles and 19 of 22 races last season as well. Last Saturday he beat team mate Sergio Perez by more than 22 seconds from pole position in Bahrain after leading every lap and setting the fastest lap.

Russell said he had a "pretty good benchmark" of his own as Hamilton's teammate and would be happy with whoever Mercedes brought in as his replacement: "This is my third season now alongside Lewis, greatest driver of all time.

"I feel like I've done a pretty good job alongside him so whoever were to line up alongside me next year or the years to come, I welcome anybody. I welcome the challenge. You always want to go against the best.

"I believe I can beat anybody on the grid, you've just got to have that mentality. Having Lewis as my benchmark for the last couple of years has been a pretty good benchmark for sure," added Russell.

Several drivers have been linked to the soon-to-be-vacated Mercedes seat with the likes of their own reserve Mick Schumacher Aston Martin veteran Fernando Alonso, fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz who derparts Ferrari to make way for Hamilton and teenager Kimi Antonelli among them.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin)