George Russell is eager for Max Verstappen to stay in Formula 1 but isn’t worried by any impact his departure would have – arguing no driver is bigger than the championship.
The four-time world champion is currently weighing up his future after being left incredibly frustrated by the new-for-2026 regulations, which he claimed are “anti-racing”.
It also doesn’t help that his Red Bull team has suffered a poor start as it is sixth after three rounds, so Verstappen said in Japan last time out that he has “life decisions” to make.
The 28-year-old’s situation is therefore different to Russell, who has been supportive of the more electrical regulations, aided by him enjoying his first title-contending car since joining Mercedes in 2022.
So when asked in a media roundtable which included Motorsport.com on Friday if F1 could “survive” without Verstappen, Russell argued that “Formula 1 is bigger than any driver”.
But he then added: “You wouldn’t want to lose Max because I think we all enjoy racing against Max and it’s just part and parcel of Formula 1.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images
“I didn’t enjoy driving the ‘22 car when it was porpoising up and down, killing everybody’s backs. The car was big, it was heavy, the high-speed corners, it wasn’t very pleasant to drive.
“But he didn’t have the same complaint because he was winning. Now, the complaints that he has currently are different to the complaints of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren because we’re at the front end of the grid and this is only natural.”
None of this is anything new either as Verstappen has often stated that he will only stay in F1 if he enjoys it, having already achieved his goal of becoming world champion.
Russell therefore understands why the Dutchman is contemplating walking away, particularly as he wouldn’t leave motorsport entirely given he’s a very keen GT3 racer.
Verstappen has entered two races in the Nurburgring Langstecken-Serie and this weekend is qualifying for the 24-hour contest at the Nordschleife on 16-17 May aboard a Mercedes.
“You do understand and recognise the frustration, but he’s achieved what most drivers dream of, which is winning a championship,” added Russell.
#3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO: Max Verstappen, Daniel Juncadella, Jules Gounon
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“He’s got four of them and at the end of the day, you get to a point in life that there’s not really much more for him to achieve in Formula 1.
“He’s ticked all the boxes, maybe he can go after the records, but knowing him as I do and knowing drivers who have won or achieved similar things, at one point you want to do what puts a smile on your face – I can totally understand why driving the Nordschleife puts a smile on his face.
“I’ve driven hundreds of laps around the Nordschleife on the simulator and I would love to have that chance to go and race around the Nordschleife, but my goal now is to become a Formula 1 world champion.
“If I have four of them under my belt, I’d probably be doing the same. So, he’s in a very different stage of his career and I think you’d understand if he stayed and you’d understand if he went.”
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