© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
George Russell says “having the chance to sign someone like Max, every team would go for it”, and he himself also wants to “go against the best”.
With the announcement of Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull, it now seems more likely than ever that Max Verstappen could choose to leave the team.
If he does, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has already stated that Max would be his first choice to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2025 and beyond.
Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, George Russell was asked to give his thoughts on potentially having Verstappen as his team-mate.
“I’d be all for it,” Russell said.
“Coming into Mercedes in 2022, off the back of Lewis’s legendary years and victories was a huge task for anybody, jumping into a team where he’s been for so long.
“I believe in myself, that you need to go up against the best in the same machinery and show what you’ve got.
“I feel that having Lewis as my team-mate for the past three years, he’s been a hell of a team-mate, and we push each other every single week and so it is fair to say that I would welcome Max.
“I want to go against the best, so yeah, make it happen.”
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Asked whether Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has asked for his opinion on who he would like to see as his team-mate, George said:
“He doesn’t need to ask my view or opinion, I’ve made it clear that I would welcome anybody.
“Having the chance to sign someone like Max, every team would go for it, and I feel privileged to have had the chance of being team-mates with Lewis – who is still statistically the greatest driver of all time – and week in, week out battling with him.
“To have a chance to do that with somebody like Max would be great for me personally because I believe in myself and in my abilities.
“For Mercedes, it is a long-term project, we’ve got the big rules coming up in 2026 and it is important to have good harmony between ’25 and ’26.
“But ultimately, it comes down to 2,000 people at the factory between the engine, the chassis and the new fuels that are coming in are ultimately going to make the biggest difference.
“But of course, as I said, if you could sign Max, which team wouldn’t?” Russell concluded.
