George Russell at the Singapore GP press conference - Photo: Race Pictures

Russell hit with 'Verstappen is the prize' as Hamilton warning looms

14:23, 15 Oct

Updated: 15:30, 15 Oct

byNorberto Mujica

According to former Ferrari race engineer, Rob Smedley, George Russell can't be surprised at what he interprets are Mercedes' negotiation tactics, since they did it to Lewis Hamilton.

My understanding on that is that Mercedes, quite rightly, like any team with half an ounce of sense, are going to try to get Max Verstappen in their car.

- Rod Smedley on Mercedes-Russell contract negotiations

Former F1 driver Jolyon Palmer, believes Russell, currently under lingering contractual negotiations with Mercedes, has made himself essential to the German team given his recent run of performances, out of which his win at the Singapore Grand Prix win, his second race victory in 2025, stands out.

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast Palmer said: “Russell’s played a blinder, hasn’t he?”

“Soak up a little bit of contract pressure in the summer, Max doesn’t take it, knock out a couple of great races – second in Baku, wins in Singapore – and then says, ‘Right, where’s my contract now?’ Surely he’s indispensable to Mercedes.”

Max Verstappen and George Russell in Singapore - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

Smedley in turn disagrees with Palmer, provided that all the silly season rumours regarding Max Verstappen's potential switch from Red Bull Racing to Mercedes were actually true, which according to the former Ferrari engineer's understanding, is actually the case.

“I mean, my understanding on that is that Mercedes, quite rightly, like any team with half an ounce of sense, are going to try to get Max Verstappen in their car.”

“You just want the best athlete on your team, whether or not that athlete is designing the car or driving the car, or whatever it is. You just want the best athlete, right?

"And I think it’s then up to the executive team to kind of manage that situation, but get the best athlete first off, and then we’ll manage the fallout of having that best athlete, whatever your sports team is.

George Russell in Singapore - Photo: Race Pictures

Back in 2023, Hamilton was offered a 1+1 deal, in a move viewed as the team making room for Andrea Kimi Antonelli's F1 debut. The same situation Smedley believes is currently unfolding within the German squad, but this time with Verstappen as 'the prize.'

“And remember that we had this situation very recently as well, in Mercedes, where the seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton was offered a one-plus-one deal.

"So there was security for a year, and then at the end of that year, you know, all bets were off and we would see whether we renewed for the other one or two years.

“So I think if Mercedes are prepared to do that with Lewis Hamilton, they’re certainly going to be prepared to do it with George, if the prize is Max Verstappen.”

Russell has been confirmed by Wolff

Mercedes team principal and CEO Toto Wolff, during a post-Singapore GP interview with interview Sky Germany, confirmed Russell and Antonelli as Mercedes's driver pairing for 2026. A development that F1 expert Ralf Schumacher, however, said that it had not come without a cost.

GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.