Jenson Button, the 2009 Formula 1 World Champion, has expressed keen interest in the possibility of seeing George Russell and Max Verstappen as teammates at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. According to the British driver, such a pairing would evoke memories of one of the most iconic rivalries in the history of the sport—Alain Prost versus Ayrton Senna.
Mercedes lineup for 2026 remains undecided
As the weeks go by, rumors continue to swirl around the possibility of Max Verstappen making a sensational move to Mercedes in time for the 2026 Formula 1 season. However, despite ongoing speculation, there has been no official confirmation from either Red Bull Racing or Mercedes-AMG regarding whether the Dutchman will leave or stay. Alongside these uncertainties, discussions have intensified about which current Mercedes driver would be forced to vacate his seat if Verstappen does indeed join the Brackley-based squad.
Should the four-time World Champion make the switch, the most likely candidate to be replaced appears to be George Russell. Several factors contribute to this theory, including Team Principal Toto Wolff’s strong backing of young Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli and the reportedly tense relationship between Verstappen and Russell. However, not everyone in the Formula 1 world agrees with the notion of dropping Russell.
Jenson Button pushes for internal rivalry at Mercedes
In addition to former F1 driver Johnny Herbert, another prominent British figure defending George Russell is 2009 World Champion Jenson Button. Speaking in an interview with The Sports Agents, Button stated that he would be genuinely excited to witness an intense intra-team rivalry between Verstappen and Russell at Mercedes: “I would love for that to happen,” he said. “I don’t know if it will or if it’s likely, but from my perspective—as both a fan of this sport and someone working in the TV industry—I have to say I’d really like to see it.”
Jenson Button even went so far as to compare a hypothetical Russell-Verstappen showdown to one of the most legendary rivalries in Formula 1: “It would be like Alain Prost versus Ayrton Senna,” he added. “I’m a big fan of both drivers, and I think they both have incredible talent.”
Button also showed sympathy for George Russell amid rumors that he might be the one to step aside should Verstappen join Mercedes: “I do feel a bit sorry for George because everyone says he should be the one to leave if Max moves to Mercedes,” he noted. “But George is in great shape. He’s an exceptional talent and an extremely hard worker.”
The former champion emphasized that Russell has already proven himself by competing alongside seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton—a challenge few drivers could handle. “He has shown what he’s capable of next to someone like Lewis Hamilton, and I know how tough that is,” Button concluded.
In the view of many fans and insiders like Button, keeping George Russell and pairing him with Max Verstappen would not only provide Mercedes with one of the strongest line-ups on the grid but would also create one of the most captivating team dynamics the sport has seen in recent years.
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