In June it was announced that Sergio Perez signed a new 2-year contract with Red Bull that would take him to the end of the 2026 season. With the newly signed contract the speculation about the Mexican’s future should have been put to rest.
Instead there is an endless stream of rumors and speculation about his seat. Given his non-stellar performances over the course of this season which contributed to Red Bull no longer leading the Constructors’ Championship, these rumours are not surprising.
Red Bull appears desperate to fill the seat with someone that could grant them stellar performances with consistent points scoring positions. Looking at their junior team VCARB which will be hosting Yuki Tsunoda and the returning Liam Lawson, starting at the next round in Austin, one of them would be a natural choice.
However, Red Bull have also never shied away from hiring drivers outside their pool, so it should not come as a surprise that during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend Christian Horner voiced an interest in Mercedes’ George Russell.
“George Russell is out of contract at the end of next year. It would be foolish not to take that into consideration. There are other drivers, talented drivers, that will be out of contract as well.”
Considering that George Russell’s contract is indeed running out at the end of next season, the Brit could be an option as it seems unlikely that Red Bull will retain Perez beyond next season, despite his 2-year contract. Horner’s comments about Russell naturally sparked a response from Mercedes Team Principal & CEO Toto Wolff, when the Austrian was asked about Horner’s comments.
“Christian is always trying to stir the s*** up […] It’s part of the game. George has been a Mercedes driver forever and hopefully will be forever.”
Mercedes just recently announced that Formula 2 driver Kimi Antonelli is going to join the team for his rookie season. It thus seems unlikely that Mercedes is keen to let a driver with George Russell’ experience go.
“He’s learning, he’s constantly developing,” Wolff recently said about Russell. “That is a skill we have all admired with Lewis – although he’s this great champion, he is constantly developing as a human and as a racing driver.
“So yes, George has all he needs to step in the more senior role in the team and take the leadership when it maybe comes to technical decisions on set-ups that need to be taken. I have great confidence in him.”
Taking Wolff’s comments into account, it would seem like it’s only a matter of time before Russell pens a new deal with Mercedes.
Horner’s comments on the other hand, feel like retribution for the Mercedes-Max Verstappen saga, sparked by Wolff earlier this year. After the bombshell news in February, of Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes after over 10 years and having celebrated multiple world championships, Toto Wolff had spent most of this season, talking about Max Verstappen being his No.1 choice to fill the seat vacated by Hamilton. A curious choice considering Verstappen has signed a 5-year contract with Red Bull in 2023 that would take him to the end of the 2028 season. Nonetheless, Wolff would not tire of bringing up Max Verstappen to the detriment of Horner and Red Bull.
Regardless of whether the comments were made in retribution or not, Red Bull will need to make a decision about that second seat and will be sure to look at all options, whether this will include George Russell remains to be seen.
