Can George Russell actually switch to Red Bull for 2026?
George Russell might be open to consider a move to Red Bull from Mercedes after Kimi Antonelli's 2025 arrival.
George Russell and Max Verstappen (via IMAGO)
George Russell has been an integral part of the Mercedes program for the last few years. The British driver was promoted to the Brackley-based squad after spending three seasons at Williams. However, it seems that rival teams are eager to get their hands on the 26-year-old.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner surprised the paddock by expressing his interest in potentially poaching George Russell from Mercedes. Although, Toto Wolff asserted that this was just Horner’s way to create tension at the Silver Arrows, such a move might not be too far-fetched.
Max Verstappen might be contracted to Red Bull till the end of 2028. However, time and time again, rumors have emerged that the Dutch driver would be open to switching teams if Milton Keynes struggled to perform. As such, could George Russell potentially consider himself as the perfect candidate to replace Verstappen at Red Bull?
George Russell might be losing influence at Mercedes in 2025
After Lewis Hamilton announced his shock switch to Ferrari for 2025, Mercedes needed to find a suitable replacement. The Silver Arrows ultimately decided to sign 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, albeit the team did attempt to get Verstappen initially.
This could potentially bother George Russell as Antonelli will make his F1 debut right at Mercedes while he had to go via the Williams route. Russell might fear that the Silver Arrows would shift focus on the Italian driver as its long-term F1 prospect. Daniel Ricciardo had left Red Bull in 2019 due to similar reasons.
Moreover, Mercedes has admitted that 2025 will be a shootout between Russell and Antonelli as the team tries to sign Max Verstappen for F1’s new era. As such, if George Russell fails to outperform Kimi Antonelli from the get-go, he might have no option but to get in touch with Red Bull. Although, such a move would depend largely on Verstappen’s future decision.
Even if Russell outperforms Antonelli and is stayed put for 2026, Max Verstappen’s arrival would shift the focus of the team entirely. This could inevitably make the Briton a ‘number 2’ driver. Subsequently, George Russell would rather want to command his own destiny by joining Red Bull. Certainly, fans can expect silly season to be more exciting than ever in the coming months.
Armaan Agarwal
(2018 Articles Published)