Christian Horner… to George Russell move as Red Bull put pressure on Toto Wolff. Read more
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has hinted at the possibility of George Russell joining the team, suggesting it would be unwise not to consider the British driver as his contract with Mercedes is set to expire at the end of the 2025 season. The remark comes amid ongoing speculation about Max Verstappen’s future, as Mercedes has been interested in luring the Dutchman away from Red Bull.
With Verstappen’s contract containing a clause that could see him move to Mercedes in 2026, the landscape at Brackley may face significant changes. If Verstappen leaves, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff could face the challenging decision of choosing between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, both key members of Mercedes’ young driver program. Both drivers’ contracts also expire at the end of 2025, creating an uncertain future.
Horner’s comments come as Red Bull keeps an eye on the market, particularly regarding the possibility of Russell becoming available. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Horner remarked, “George Russell is out of contract [in 2025], it would be foolish not to take that into consideration.” This signals that Red Bull might be open to bringing Russell into their ranks if the opportunity arises.
For Wolff and Mercedes, losing Russell to Red Bull would be a significant blow. Wolff has invested heavily in the 26-year-old’s career, helping him progress through Formula Three, Formula Two, and eventually into Formula One with Williams before bringing him to Mercedes. Russell was seen as a key part of Mercedes’ long-term future, especially with the eventual departure of Lewis Hamilton in sight. However, if Verstappen were to replace Russell at Mercedes, it could pave the way for Red Bull to act.
Horner’s comments also come at a time when he faces crucial decisions regarding Red Bull’s current driver lineup. Daniel Ricciardo, who recently returned to the grid with AlphaTauri, may face an uncertain future. Speculation has arisen that Ricciardo could be replaced by young Red Bull driver Liam Lawson, with rumors suggesting Lawson might take over the car for the United States Grand Prix later this season.
Addressing Ricciardo’s future, Horner acknowledged that Red Bull is reviewing its driver lineup and may make changes soon. “These things are under constant review, and there is a much bigger picture other than just Daniel as we continue to look at all of our options,” Horner said when asked about Ricciardo’s future.
With a month-long break before the next Grand Prix, Horner hinted that Red Bull would take this time to assess the situation. He added, “It’s not to the detriment of Daniel. We know how he’s performed. We’ve got a lot of data, a lot of knowledge of where Daniel is. It’s a much bigger picture within the whole driver merry-go-round of what the future looks like.”
Ultimately, Red Bull’s decisions regarding both Russell and Ricciardo will play into the larger dynamics of the F1 driver market as teams continue to position themselves for the future.
