Red Bull’s informal talks with George Russell could disrupt Mercedes’ plans. Red Bull is reportedly in informal talks with George Russell, potentially positioning him as Max Verstappen's successor.

Max Verstappen and a range of options
While the Formula 1 season unfolds on track, with Max Verstappen’s battle against McLaren and Mercedes and Ferrari‘s attempts to stay at the top, another ‘championship’ is taking place behind the scenes. This is the driver market, which already delivered unexpected twists last year and could cause significant upheaval again this year, especially with the regulatory changes in 2026. The feeling is that it will follow one of two paths: either there will be no movement, and everything will stay the same with the top teams, or a revolution will take place.

The most important piece in the driver market puzzle is, of course, Max Verstappen. The options for the reigning world champion are four: stay with Red Bull, take a sabbatical year, join Mercedes, or move to Aston Martin. The Milton Keynes team has a contract tying the Dutchman until 2028, but, of course, there are performance clauses. Therefore, Christian Horner must find a way to protect his team and, according to the British website The Race, he is thinking about doing so by knocking on George Russell’s door.

Christian Horner aims to disrupt Mercedes
According to some sources, Russell and Horner have already had informal talks in recent weeks. There is no formal negotiation yet, but understandably, given the locked contracts of Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Charles Leclerc, the former Williams driver would be Red Bull’s top choice if Verstappen leaves. Furthermore, Red Bull’s involvement could slow down the renewal talks between Mercedes and George Russell. It’s a classic disruptive tactic, far from improbable given the not-so-idyllic relationship between Christian Horner and Toto Wolff.

Russell, who is currently having the best season of his career, has taken his time, stating that he has never discussed a renewal before “May-June.” Therefore, Mercedes will have to move carefully: it may succeed in securing Verstappen, but it could also risk finding itself empty-handed, without either the Dutchman or Russell, should the four-time world champion choose Aston Martin’s offer or take a sabbatical. The next few months, alongside the on-track battles, will also help resolve these complicated issues.