The Formula -1 World was again shaken by a violent explanation by the Mercedes driver George Russell, who did not hide his frustrations about Max Verstappen and his alleged influence on his career. In a recently organized interviews organized in the course of the Grand Prix of Austria, Russell expressed sharp criticism of the four -Time world champions and described the situation in his own future at Mercedes as a “nightmare”. According to Russell, Verstappen would not only endanger his position at Mercedes, but Red Bull would also completely ignore him as a potential candidate for her team. These statements come at a time when the driver market is on the move for 2026, and the tensions between the two drivers, which have been sharing a rivalry for years, continues to increase.

The controversy began when Russell suggested that Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff in 2026 was still entertaining with Verstappen about a possible switch to the team in the team. Although Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull by 2028, the paddock whispered over Clausules, which could not meet his expectations. Russell, whose contract ends with Mercedes at the end of 2025, feels the pressure of this speculation. He claimed that Verstappen “took” his place in Mercedes actively through the constant interest of Wolff that puts Russell in an uncertain position. “It is a nightmare to be in this situation,” Russell told Sky Sports. “I act from my best side, but it seems that my future is determined by factors outside of my control.”

The rivalry between Russell and Verstappen is not new. The two drivers are together several times and next to the route. During the Grand Prix of Spain this season there was a striking incident in which Verstappen caused a controversial collision with Russell. For this, the Dutchman received a time penalty of ten seconds and three penalty points, so that he compensated for a racing driver. Russell called this campaign “unnecessary” and suggested that Verstappen sometimes harm his own heir in Formula 1 with such behavior. “I’ve driven him since 2011,” said Russell. “I know exactly how it is when he’s not ahead. It wins or crashes.”

In addition to his criticism of Verstappen, Russell also concentrated on Red Bull. He claimed that the Milton Keynes team ignored him as a possible candidate for a chair despite his strong performance this season. With four podium and a win in Canada, Russell has proven to be one of the top talents on the net. Nevertheless, Red Bull does not seem to be interested, which, according to Russell, comes from her focus on Verstappen. “I spoke to Red Bull, but it was informal,” he said. “You only have an eye for Max, and that is your right, but it feels like I’m not even taking into account.”

The situation is more difficult by the rise of Mercedes Junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will impress Russell this season. Toto Wolff has made no secret of his admiration for Antonelli, which further promotes speculations about Russell’s future in the team. “Kimi and I do it well together,” said Russell. “We achieve results and I don’t understand why Mercedes would change something that works.” Nevertheless, Wolff seems to hesitate to offer Russell a new contract, possibly in the hope of being worried about Verstappen if Red Bull’s performance continues to stall.

In the meantime, Verstappen remains under the speculation within Red Bull Cool. When he was asked about a possible switch to Mercedes, he replied: “I concentrate on driving and improving the car. We will see what will happen next year.” Christian Horner, head of the Red Bull team, emphasized that Verstappen, despite the recent fights with the RB21, remains the team of the team. “Max is our leader and we build the future around him,” said Horner.

The argument between Russell and Verstappen gives the Formula -1 season a new layer of tension that is already full of rivalry and drama. While the Grand Prix is ​​approaching Austria, fans and analysts keep an eye on the dynamics between these two drivers. Will Russell be able to keep his place at Mercedes, or will Verstappen throw a shadow again about the British career? The future remains uncertain for the time being, but one thing is clear: the rivalry between these two ramparts is not over yet.