‘Never say never’ – George Russell opens up to future Max Verstappen partnership

George Russell has surprised many by leaving the door wide open to partnering Max Verstappen at some point in the future – be it in Formula 1 or at endurance classics like the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Despite a tense war of words between the two during the 2024 season, the Mercedes driver insists he would embrace the challenge of going head-to-head with the four-time champion.

Why it matters:

A potential Verstappen-Russell pairing would create one of the most formidable – and potentially volatile – driver lineups in F1 history. With Verstappen's Red Bull future clouded by performance clauses and rule disputes, and Russell's Mercedes tenure hinging on targets, the 2027 driver market could shift dramatically.

The details:

• Russell told PlanetF1.com: "Never say never… I would relish the opportunity to always go against the best. That's how I felt when I was teammates with Lewis."
• Their relationship soured after Verstappen accused Russell of exaggerating an incident in Qatar 2024 qualifying, leading to a bitter exchange. Red Bull even mocked Russell's Canadian GP outburst with a "borderline something something" social media post.
• Verstappen impressed on his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut with Mercedes-AMG, leading before a driveshaft failure.
• Russell admitted he would "definitely" like to race at the Nürburgring one day, but noted Verstappen is in a "luxurious position" having already achieved so much in F1.

What's next:

• Verstappen's Red Bull contract contains a performance clause: he can leave if he's lower than second in the drivers' standings at the summer break. He currently sits seventh, 45 points behind Russell.
• The Dutchman has threatened to walk away from F1 for 2027 if proposed engine rule changes don't go through – and Red Bull has signaled it will support the tweak.
• Russell's Mercedes deal is one-plus-one, with 2027 dependent on meeting internal targets. He says that looks "very likely" after Mercedes' dominant start to 2026.
• Toto Wolff's meeting with Jos Verstappen in Canada has fueled reunion rumors, though Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies played it down.