Juan Pablo Montoya: “George Russell makes Verstappen unnecessary for Mercedes”. Juan Pablo Montoya believes Mercedes should focus on securing George Russell.

Montoya insists that Mercedes should lock in George Russell, arguing that with his performance, Max Verstappen is not needed.

Russell shines in 2025

In a season dominated by McLaren, some drivers risk having their performances underappreciated. George Russell is certainly among them, with a 2025 campaign marked by remarkable consistency and quality. The British driver has been solid throughout the year, delivering two pole positions and two victories for Mercedes in what has otherwise been a challenging season.

George Russell didn’t necessarily need a standout season to secure his place on the grid for next year, given his undeniable talent. However, his contract renewal with Mercedes has not yet been officially confirmed, reflecting a gap between the team and the driver, partly due to the team’s rumored interest in Max Verstappen.

Montoya’s perspective

Max Verstappen, meanwhile, has made it clear that he intends to honor his contract with Red Bull at least through 2026. For Juan Pablo Montoya, there is therefore no reason to delay George Russell’s renewal further. Montoya told As Colombia, “I don’t know what Toto is thinking, but George is proving that they don’t need Max. Russell in the future can be as strong as Verstappen. This year, he won two races with a car that, on paper, shouldn’t have been capable of winning.”

He added, “This situation shows that if Mercedes wants to secure someone for the future, it has to be Russell. In doing so, George is forcing the team to give him everything he wants,” concluding the former Williams and McLaren driver.