The Formula 1 driver market is already a hive of activity, with teams mulling moves to have the strongest line-ups including Oscar Piastri signing a new contract at McLaren.
Woking chiefs moved early this year to lock the 24-year-old down for the long haul as Piastri put pen to new terms with McLaren before the Australian Grand Prix. The Melbourne native agreed to stay to at least 2028 – rejecting Red Bull chief Christian Horner’s interest in Piastri.
Red Bull have also already been active in the F1 driver market in 2025, albeit while shopping within their own ranks, after Yuki Tsunoda moved from Racing Bulls to replace Liam Lawson. Further changes may also come with Jack Doohan under constant pressure to stay at Alpine.
Ted Kravitz thinks Toto Wolff would not ‘think twice’ to replace George Russell with Max Verstappen
Another domino in F1’s driver market is also now touted to fall, with Mercedes believed to be set to give George Russell a new contract. The Briton is due to be a free agent after the 2025 Formula 1 season as the 27-year-old last agreed to fresh terms in Brackley in August 2023.
READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Lando Norris |
77 |
| 2 |
Oscar Piastri |
74 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
69 |
| 4 |
George Russell |
63 |
| 5 |
Charles Leclerc |
32 |
| 6 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
30 |
His career-best start to a season with a P2 and two P3 finishes through four Grands Prix has convinced the Silver Arrows to retain the King’s Lynn native. Russell is expected to get a two-year, £45m Mercedes contract to extend his stay yet Ted Kravitz fears his future is uncertain.
Kravitz believes Toto Wolff would still look to replace Russell if the Mercedes team principal gets the chance to tempt Max Verstappen to leave Red Bull. He could even axe the Briton if Russell led the F1 drivers’ standings if the Dutchman felt he wanted to leave Milton Keynes.
“I don’t think that will have a bearing,” Kravitz told Sky Sports’ The F1 Show. “George could be leading the world championship but Toto will, in all likelihood, if he gets the opportunity, sign Verstappen up for the future.
“Such is the unrelentingly cutthroat nature of Formula 1, I don’t think he would think twice about replacing George Russell.”
George Russell signing a new contract would likely block Max Verstappen from joining Mercedes
Russell agreeing to a new contract at Mercedes would likely block Verstappen from making a move from Milton Keynes, even if he wanted to leave Red Bull, with Wolff unlikely to replace 2025 F1 rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli to partner the Briton with the Dutchman in the future.
READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
But the problems that Red Bull are having with the RB21 this term and the tension behind the scenes have sparked reports that Wolff expects Verstappen’s manager to call Mercedes and discuss a 2026 seat. Wolff would also struggle to say no to a driver he has wanted for years.
Red Bull’s woes have even increased Mercedes’ belief, as Wolff is increasingly confident of signing Verstappen for 2026 or 2027. So, Russell may want to have his new contract agreed and signed soon to end the concerns lingering on the three-time Grand Prix winner’s future.
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