Mercedes Formula 1 driver George Russell has admitted that his team's flirtation with the idea of signing Max Verstappen for 2026 has been difficult to deal with - perhaps more difficult that he had originally let on.
Verstappen moving 28 points clear of, coincidentally, Russell in the standings ahead of Hungary means that he will not have the ability to trigger a break clause that would free him from his current Red Bull contract for 2026 - because he will not enter the summer break lower than third in the standings.
Accordingly, Verstappen confirmed for the first time on Thursday that he will be at Red Bull in 2026. "I think it's time to basically stop all the rumours," he said. "For me it's always been quite clear that I was staying anyway. I think that was also the general feeling in the team anyway.
"Because we were always in discussions about what we can do with the car [going forward], and I think when you're not interested in staying, then you also stop talking about these kinds of things. And I never did."
Mercedes was widely acknowledged as the main alternative, and Verstappen's commitment for 2026 means it is now logical for the team to carry on with Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who are both on deals that expire at the end of 2025.
Russell's public acknowledgment in June that his employer was in talks with Verstappen could have been taken at the time as a sign of his unease with the situation, but he had generally sought to cut a relaxed figure in public, repeatedly insisting that Mercedes' interest in Verstappen was only normal and that his own F1 future would work out well as long as he kept performing at his current level.
As recently as Spa a week ago, before the Verstappen route was officially cut off for Mercedes, Russell said that "everything will work itself out" and that "there's a lot more hype around it externally than there is internally". "Ultimately, what's the worst that's going to happen?" he said. "If I'm performing, I'll still be in F1, and I will be somewhere competitive."
But media day at the Hungarian Grand Prix brought with it what felt like a subtle change of tone - with Russell not just acknowledging the fact the last few months had been complicated, but also pointing to the inherent awkwardness of both himself and Antonelli having their careers managed by the same Mercedes F1 structure that may have entertained replacing one of them with Verstappen.
"For my whole career until last year, the team have supported me so much and given me such amazing opportunities - and our goals have been aligned, and what has been in the best interest of the team has also been in the best interest of me," Russell said.
"Now, of course, these last six months have been a very unique situation where I don't have a huge power in that sort of agreement, and maybe the interests were not aligned for some time. Which has, of course, put me at risk for these last six months.
"Then it was my job to perform and reduce that risk."
Russell was speaking in response to a question as to whether he needs the management of his F1 career to be more in his hands, more independent of the Mercedes structure that had brought him in.
"I don't know, to be honest," he continued. "I don't wish for it to come to anything like that. I still trust Toto [Wolff] and I still trust in the team that they will always support me as long as I am performing, so that's what I need to focus on.
"But of course, for both Kimi and I, these past months have not been the most assuring for our future - and that's just been a bit conflicting."
A deal still isn't straightforward
Russell warned at Spa already that a contract before the summer break was unlikely - and Verstappen being officialy off the table for Mercedes for 2026 might not really change that.
Verstappen repeatedly declared himself "excited" about a joint future with Red Bull on Thursday. His comments about new team boss Laurent Mekies suggested Mekies' arrival doesn't hurt.
When asked by The Race whether he saw it as an opportunity to push for and implement changes in areas where maybe there would have been institutional resistance in the past, he said: "Yes, absolutely. That's always the case. Of course it's still very early days but I do like how Laurent is working - very motivated, constantly asking, I think, the right questions to me but also to the team. I think it's nice to see.
"I mean, this year it's very difficult to see any kind of benefit from that. But I hope in the coming year, two years, we can really see his touch to the team. And I'm very excited for that."
But while the 2026 pecking order remains a total mystery, most have Mercedes ahead of Red Bull with its first-ever bespoke power unit to begin with - which would likely leave Verstappen free to explore free agency for 2027 should he choose to do so.
Mercedes would surely prefer to ensure it has a seat open in that scenario. Russell, however, would logically want a multi-year commitment that means he can't be the one under threat of making way for Verstappen in 2027.
"There's something we need to think about," he said about the duration of the deal. "What is in the interest of both parties, really? What do I want from this, as as much as what do Mercedes want?
"There has been obviously a bit of a unique situation we found ourselves in over these last six months.
"The fact is, from my side, I want to win. That is the only thing I care about. More than money, more than the number of days I do sponsorship [events], more than anything, I want to win. And that for me is the most important thing about my future."
Winning heals everything, yes. But it's clear Russell wouldn't enjoy finding himself in a similar situation next year.
The Verstappen-Mercedes idea is over for 2026 - but there is still a fallout to navigate.
