Martin Brundle suggests George Russell is anxious amid Verstappen’s potential Red Bull exit
George Russell may have every reason to feel uneasy. Formula 1 pundit Martin Brundle has suggested the Mercedes driver is “nervous” as speculation swirls around a sensational Max Verstappen move from Red Bull to Mercedes.
Russell’s contract with Mercedes runs out at the end of the 2025 season. Despite team principal Toto Wolff insisting a renewal should be straightforward, no deal has yet been finalised. And that delay, Brundle hints, might have less to do with negotiations and more to do with Verstappen.
Brundle, speaking to Sky Sports F1, didn’t mince words. “I think George Russell is nervous and he’s ringing around a little bit,” he said. “There is no smoke without fire.”
Verstappen is currently locked into a Red Bull deal until the end of 2028. But there’s a twist. The contract includes a break clause: if the Dutchman is not within the top three of the drivers’ standings by mid-season, he can walk away as early as 2026.
That condition might seem far-fetched, but it’s suddenly relevant. As Formula 1 heads into the British Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen sits third in the championship on 155 points. Just nine points behind him? None other than Russell himself, who is on 146.
Verstappen has remained coy about his future, refusing to explicitly confirm he will stay with Red Bull for 2026. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s insistence that he’ll remain isn’t enough to kill the chatter.
Brundle sees the uncertainty as part of a larger shift looming over the sport.
Embed from Getty Images“If you were going to 2026, it is a massive change, the biggest ever in Formula 1 for the chassis and power units,” he said. “You’d guess Mercedes would be there or thereabouts.”
The 2026 season will mark the arrival of sweeping new regulations—new chassis standards, radical power unit changes, and a reshaped competitive landscape. For any top-tier driver, including Verstappen, timing a move to coincide with that reset could be strategic.
Mercedes has made no secret of their desire to sign Verstappen should he become available. Team boss Wolff has publicly courted him in recent months, even as he insists that negotiations with Russell remain positive.
But for Russell, the silence may be louder than any reassurances.
The 26-year-old Briton has shown consistent performance since joining Mercedes, even earning praise for outperforming Lewis Hamilton during challenging spells. Still, Verstappen is a four-time world champion and widely regarded as the sport’s most dominant talent.
Brundle didn’t elaborate on what exactly he thinks is “up,” but his remarks hint at deep undercurrents. If Verstappen is indeed considering an exit—and if Mercedes is holding space in their lineup for him—Russell’s future could be more fragile than it appears.
With both Red Bull and Mercedes remaining tight-lipped, and Verstappen showing no urgency to clarify his intentions, the next few races may shape not just the championship standings, but also the 2026 grid.
And if Russell finishes this season still contractless while Verstappen lurks on the market, the fire under Mercedes might be real—because the smoke is already visible.
