Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has claimed George Russell’s long-term Mercedes future is not safe
Former Method 1 driver Johnny Herbert has urged that George Russell’s long-term future at Mercedes is not assured, regardless of his sturdy opening to the season. Russell, 27, received the season-opening Australian Grand Prix earlier this month earlier than claiming second place – behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli – on the Chinese language Grand Prix final weekend.
He leads the Drivers‘ Standings having accrued 51 factors from the opening two races and is the bookmakers‘ favorite to assert the world championship by season’s finish.
Nonetheless, ex-Sauber and Jaguar driver Herbert, who was a daily fixture on the F1 grid all through the Nineteen Nineties, reckons that Russell may very well be proven the exit by Mercedes within the close to future.
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He urged that Max Verstappen’s dissatisfaction and unsure prospects at Pink Bull would possibly pave the way in which for his swap to Mercedes and Russell’s exit.
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Herbert, who was talking alongside Damon Hill on the Keep On Observe podcast, mentioned: „I’ve heard little rumours once more that with Max not being very completely satisfied the place he’s… is he going to be taken by Mercedes, which implies they’ll do away with George.“
Hill mentioned in response: „So George is all the time momentary.“
Max Verstappen faces an unsure future at Pink Bull(Picture: Getty)
While each Russell and Antonelli have secured a victory and a runner-up end this season, the Brit holds a four-point benefit over his team-mate within the Drivers‘ Standings due to successful the dash race in China.
Antonelli completed behind Russell in second place in Australia earlier than rising victorious within the second race of the marketing campaign on the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit. And 1996 F1 world champion Hill has questioned whether or not Antonelli, 19, has now leapt above Russell to develop into Mercedes‘ most well-liked driver.
„Kimi is Toto’s protégé, for those who like. He is put his fame on the road to get this man in,“ Hill mentioned. „Kimi would not need to let him down, however on the similar time, he is grateful to Toto, and Toto’s delighted that he is now received a race.
„In the meantime, George has been attempting his easiest to impress them for now I do not know what number of seasons. It bought to some extent final yr the place they needed to re-sign and it went on a bit. It wasn’t like Toto was determined to re-sign George.“
Russell penned a brand new contract at Mercedes final October to maintain him via to the top of the 2026 season.
The deal, ceaselessly described as a one-plus-one or a „multi-year“ settlement, comprises performance-based clauses that may mechanically prolong his keep into 2027 based mostly on attaining particular targets, putting his future in his personal fingers.
Russell and Antonelli are set to go head-to-head within the subsequent F1 race in Japan this weekend.
