Rob Smedley names the F1 driver he would ‘100%’ replace with Max Verstappen next season if he decides to leave Red Bull

Max Verstappen will be well aware that he’s at the centre of the Formula 1 driver market this year, even if he’s given no indications that he wants to leave Red Bull.

After the first six races of the Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen is 32 points behind drivers’ championship leader Oscar Piastri.

While it’s far from an unassailable lead, the signs from the Miami Grand Prix are that Red Bull are a long way off McLaren this season.

Martin Brundle compared Verstappen to Michael Schumacher during the race, highlighting the level the Dutchman has had to be at this year to try and compete with Piastri and Lando Norris.

His victory at Suzuka was outstanding, producing one of his greatest qualifying laps before being mistake-free throughout the race with both McLarens breathing down his neck.

However, Verstappen has a get-out clause in his Red Bull contract that would currently be activated during the summer break due to his position in the standings should he decide he wants to leave Red Bull.

Former Ferrari and Williams race engineer Rob Smedley now believes that if he becomes available, Mercedes driver George Russell’s time with the team could be over as a result.

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Rob Smedley would ‘100%’ sign Max Verstappen for Mercedes in George Russell’s seat

Smedley was speaking on the F1 Nation Podcast and asked about the most pressing issue in F1’s driver market this year.

Russell’s contract expires at the end of 2025, and unfortunately for the Brit, Mercedes have held an interest in Verstappen for some time.

Smedley was asked if he would re-sign Russell if Verstappen was available and he said, “Oh, that’s a very, very tough question because you’ve got a four-time world champion who is a guy who is one of those very, very special drivers and there’s very few of them who can drive over and above what the car can actually deliver.

“And he did that on Saturday in Miami and he did that at the start of the race.

“So if I was in a position to make this decision, which is what you’re actually asking me, Tom, would I want Max Verstappen in my car over anybody else on the grid right now? Yeah, 100% I would. No doubt.”

Brundle thinks Mercedes are delaying offering Russell a new deal to try and maintain his exceptional start to the campaign.

It’s a tactic that’s currently working if that’s Toto Wolff’s plan, having already secured four podiums this season.

However, no driver is currently on Verstappen’s level on the grid and for that reason, it’s hard to argue with Smedley’s logic.

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Rob Smedley explains why Max Verstappen would push Mercedes to the next level

If it emerges from Verstappen’s camp that he is open to a move away from Red Bull ahead of F1 introducing new regulations for 2026, there would be a huge fight in the paddock over who secures his signature.

Even McLaren and Ferrari, who it could be argued have the two most complete line-ups on the grid, might even consider whether to approach the 27-year-old.

Smedley explained why it would be so desirable for Mercedes, or any team, to hire Verstappen and said, “I would take the talent and that grit and that determination. You know Max as well as I do, he cares about one thing which is to go racing.

“The rest of it, the periphery nonsense that kind of hovers around Formula 1, he has no interest in whatsoever.

“If you can put somebody that motivated and that focused in your team, in any position, and that talented, whether it’s in the engineering team, the commercial team, or in the cockpit, you want them, 100% you want them, because Formula 1 is all about putting that talent in, getting that talent in play, and then orchestrating it so that it can work together.

“Talent like Max Verstappen will continue to push the team to do 101% every single day, there’s no slacking, there’s no days off.”