2025 Mercedes-AMG | Petronas F1 Team

[TeamKoolGreen]

I don't see why they'd be talking about 2027. If I'm George, I'm not taking anything less than a 2+1 which would mean I'm in there until at least the end of 2027, unless they want to pay me out a lot of cash.

Let’s be real, George has no leverage here. Aston Martin is a fantasy in the short term; Lawrence Stroll isn’t going to kick out his own son to make room for George, no matter how much people want to speculate. Alonso is already locked in for 2026. Mercedes holds all the cards in this situation, not George. Sorry, but he’s just not in a position to demand anything, as of now, he has nowhere else to go.

If Max was coming to Mercedes , there'd be a home for George at Red Bull. And he'd have Red Bull by the collar. Because RB with no Max have nobody.

[TeamKoolGreen]

I don't see why they'd be talking about 2027. If I'm George, I'm not taking anything less than a 2+1 which would mean I'm in there until at least the end of 2027, unless they want to pay me out a lot of cash.

Let’s be real, George has no leverage here. Aston Martin is a fantasy in the short term; Lawrence Stroll isn’t going to kick out his own son to make room for George, no matter how much people want to speculate. Alonso is already locked in for 2026. Mercedes holds all the cards in this situation, not George. Sorry, but he’s just not in a position to demand anything, as of now, he has nowhere else to go.

Yeah, exactly. I wouldn't say Russell is generally overrated, but amongst team bosses he hasn't been rated as highly as f1 fans, Mercedes fans in particularly rate him, like top 2 or top 3 driver on the grid and the next most talented driver after Max, or even his equal.
I think season end team principals' top 10 drivers ranking are very meaninful and Russell was in the top 3 only once in his whole career.
He was rated:
9th in 2019
6th in 2020
8th in 2021
3rd in 2022
9th in 2023
and 6th in 2024
For example Leclerc was in Top3 already 4 times. Norris 3 times. Do I even need to mention Max who was rated 4th best as a rookie at 18 in 2015 and has never been outside TOP 2 since 2016?

So, George's peak ranking was in his first season next to Lewis, but everyone understood quickly after Hamilton's level was already very overrated.
Many people were very impressed with George in 2024 as well, but we now see Leclerc beats Lewis even more convincing.
We fans can have our opinions but in the end of the day it's team principal who take decision on drivers.
Reality is, George Russell would not be top 3 pick for any top team. He has no leverage in negotiations with Mercedes and rumor has it that Aston interest was never real, this story has been thrown in the media by other party.

Did you really just say George Russell would not be in the top 3 of any teams driver choices ?
You really are just a leftover hamilton shill who still can't get over your anti Russell bias.

Christian Horner, the TP of the championship winning team last year , mentioned George Russell by name , as a prospective driver for the team. So there goes your stupid claim on the first hurdle.

[Quantum]

If only they had the same team mate in consecutive years to compare them.

Send Leclerc to Mercedes with Hamilton in the other seat. It simply wouldnt be the same as at Ferrari.

[zibby43]

Hopefully they learned something from this disastrous setup choice . . .

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/wher ... ia-set-up/

[Matt2725]

Hopefully they learned something from this disastrous setup choice . . .

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/wher ... ia-set-up/

I doubt it. This is at least the third time this season they've tried something with setup and it has been a disaster.

Saving grace is that usually the next race they're a bit more sensible, so fingers crossed for Silverstone with the cooler temps that I'd suggest they have a good shot at pole and the race win.

[dialtone]

If only they had the same team mate in consecutive years to compare them.

Send Leclerc to Mercedes with Hamilton in the other seat. It simply wouldnt be the same as at Ferrari.

Didn’t LEC beat out Vettel after he had been in Ferrari for while already?

[Lasssept]

bbc sport

- Is it conceivable that Mercedes could ditch George Russell in favour of Max Verstappen for 2026 ?

Yes, it's conceivable. We have summed up the situation with Mercedes in an earlier piece.

It was already well known that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was likely to explore his options with Verstappen this summer - as he did last year. And it was Russell who broke this situation out into the open before the Austrian Grand Prix, by saying it was "only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing".

Russell has driven an exceptional season so far. But Verstappen is regarded as the best driver in the world. Wolff is talking to him and his management to work out whether a deal is do-able and desired by both parties.

link

[Wynters]

I think season end team principals' top 10 drivers ranking are very meaninful and Russell was in the top 3 only once in his whole career...everyone understood quickly after Hamilton's level was already very overrated.

Since 2015 no one has scored more highly than Hamilton in the TP ratings (one year's scores are somewhat obscured). Trashing Russell because these scores "are very meaningful" and then dismissing a decade's worth of them with your next breath is a bold strategy.

At least with Russell we have a benchmark in his three years up against Hamilton. I don't think we have anything similar for any of the other top drivers on the grid.

[Watto]

bbc sport

- Is it conceivable that Mercedes could ditch George Russell in favour of Max Verstappen for 2026 ?

Yes, it's conceivable. We have summed up the situation with Mercedes in an earlier piece.

It was already well known that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was likely to explore his options with Verstappen this summer - as he did last year. And it was Russell who broke this situation out into the open before the Austrian Grand Prix, by saying it was "only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing".

Russell has driven an exceptional season so far. But Verstappen is regarded as the best driver in the world. Wolff is talking to him and his management to work out whether a deal is do-able and desired by both parties.

link

This really doesn't surprise me Toto has been very supportive of Max in recent times when I think he could easily have been critical the incident with Russell tried to defend Max, the comments that Max wouldn't have supported the RBR protest and a few others been a lot of digs at RBR but has almost in the same sentence found a way to support Max, that far from means he will be at Mercedes next year but think there have been signs Toto is open to it at least

[Mosin123]

Let’s be real, George has no leverage here. Aston Martin is a fantasy in the short term; Lawrence Stroll isn’t going to kick out his own son to make room for George, no matter how much people want to speculate. Alonso is already locked in for 2026. Mercedes holds all the cards in this situation, not George. Sorry, but he’s just not in a position to demand anything, as of now, he has nowhere else to go.

Yeah, exactly. I wouldn't say Russell is generally overrated, but amongst team bosses he hasn't been rated as highly as f1 fans, Mercedes fans in particularly rate him, like top 2 or top 3 driver on the grid and the next most talented driver after Max, or even his equal.
I think season end team principals' top 10 drivers ranking are very meaninful and Russell was in the top 3 only once in his whole career.
He was rated:
9th in 2019
6th in 2020
8th in 2021
3rd in 2022
9th in 2023
and 6th in 2024
For example Leclerc was in Top3 already 4 times. Norris 3 times. Do I even need to mention Max who was rated 4th best as a rookie at 18 in 2015 and has never been outside TOP 2 since 2016?

So, George's peak ranking was in his first season next to Lewis, but everyone understood quickly after Hamilton's level was already very overrated.
Many people were very impressed with George in 2024 as well, but we now see Leclerc beats Lewis even more convincing.
We fans can have our opinions but in the end of the day it's team principal who take decision on drivers.
Reality is, George Russell would not be top 3 pick for any top team. He has no leverage in negotiations with Mercedes and rumor has it that Aston interest was never real, this story has been thrown in the media by other party.

Did you really just say George Russell would not be in the top 3 of any teams driver choices ?
You really are just a leftover hamilton shill who still can't get over your anti Russell bias.

Christian Horner, the TP of the championship winning team last year , mentioned George Russell by name , as a prospective driver for the team. So there goes your stupid claim on the first hurdle.

Drivers championship, but only cause Redbull is built around Max to get the most out of Max, they finished 3rd in the constructors, Mclaren are the champions.

Redbull look set to finish 4th this year - so next year they wont be a top 3 team. things change quickly in F1, just ask Mclaren.

[avantman]

I think season end team principals' top 10 drivers ranking are very meaninful and Russell was in the top 3 only once in his whole career...everyone understood quickly after Hamilton's level was already very overrated.

Since 2015 no one has scored more highly than Hamilton in the TP ratings (one year's scores are somewhat obscured). Trashing Russell because these scores "are very meaningful" and then dismissing a decade's worth of them with your next breath is a bold strategy.

At least with Russell we have a benchmark in his three years up against Hamilton. I don't think we have anything similar for any of the other top drivers on the grid.

Again, you guys seem to miss the point completely. I can disagree with those rankings and trash them as much as you like. They represent ultimately what team bosses think about the drivers. And they, the team bosses ultimately make decisions on drivers, not us fans, even if you think they are wrong and do know nothing.

What are you trying to prove mentioning Hamilton's rating from 2015? This modern, or shall we say older version of Hamilton in new gen cars was rated:
4th in 2022, 5th in 2023 and 7th in 2024. Hamilton is not an F1 top 3 driver by any count. No surprise Leclerc is trashing him, as most expected him to do. And yes, by bigger margin and more importantly much more consistently than Russell was ever capable of. That's not my opinion, that is just a fact.

[Mosin123]

I think season end team principals' top 10 drivers ranking are very meaninful and Russell was in the top 3 only once in his whole career...everyone understood quickly after Hamilton's level was already very overrated.

Since 2015 no one has scored more highly than Hamilton in the TP ratings (one year's scores are somewhat obscured). Trashing Russell because these scores "are very meaningful" and then dismissing a decade's worth of them with your next breath is a bold strategy.

At least with Russell we have a benchmark in his three years up against Hamilton. I don't think we have anything similar for any of the other top drivers on the grid.

Again, you guys seem to miss the point completely. I can disagree with those rankings and trash them as much as you like. They represent ultimately what team bosses think about the drivers and they ultimately make decisions on drivers, not use fans, even if you think they are wrong and do know nothing.

What are you trying to prove mentioning Hamilton's rating from 2015? This modern, or shall we say older version of Hamilton in new gen cars was rated:
4th in 2022, 5th in 2023 and 7th in 2024. Hamilton is not an F1 top 3 driver by any count. No surprise Leclerc is trashing him, as most expected him to do. And yes, by bigger margin and more importantly much more consistently than Russell was ever capable of. That's not my opinion, that is just a fact.

CL is not doing any thing he is not expected to do, just the same as Albon destroying Sainz is not unexpected. Next seasons reg changes will show more, as all will be on an equal footing., i expect LH to be matching CL before the season is up ( He is getting very close ), And Sainz to be beating Albon next year.

[Matt2725]

bbc sport

- Is it conceivable that Mercedes could ditch George Russell in favour of Max Verstappen for 2026 ?

Yes, it's conceivable. We have summed up the situation with Mercedes in an earlier piece.

It was already well known that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff was likely to explore his options with Verstappen this summer - as he did last year. And it was Russell who broke this situation out into the open before the Austrian Grand Prix, by saying it was "only normal that conversations with the likes of Verstappen are ongoing".

Russell has driven an exceptional season so far. But Verstappen is regarded as the best driver in the world. Wolff is talking to him and his management to work out whether a deal is do-able and desired by both parties.

link

Yes, that would be harsh on Russell - just as it was harsh on Carlos Sainz when Ferrari decided they preferred to sign Lewis Hamilton for 2025. But it would also be understandable from Mercedes' point of view.

I have to disagree on the final point the author made. I'm not sure it would be understandable to be quite honest.

If anything, it shows prospective junior drivers that the Mercedes junior program is probably not worth a punt, because they'll just as soon as replace you if they think something better is out there, even if you're performing at a level similar to said something. For them to drop a driver out of their junior program, who is performing at the top of the grid for a driver who could very just as well flounder (albeit not likely) in the Mercedes is bizarre to me.

This season has only proven yet again that a driver, even the "best in the world", is only as good as the machinery they have to work with.

[erudite450]

I think Russell is one of the top talents on the grid. I think if he and Verstappen were to move to a neutral team together, he'd give Verstappen a run for his money. Redbull will snap up George if Verstappen joins Mercedes.

[Matt2725]

I think Russell is one of the top talents on the grid. I think if he and Verstappen were to move to a neutral team together, he'd give Verstappen a run for his money. Redbull will snap up George if Verstappen joins Mercedes.

Perhaps.

Either way, I am really questioning whether Wolff is doing the best for the team in this relentless pursuit of Verstappen. I don't care how resilient or confident you claim to be, if you're in George's position, you must be starting to wonder what you're even doing there if your boss is actively chasing your replacement.