According to George Russell, Max Verstappen did not complain about the previous generation of F1 cars while he was winning, but Russell can understand if Verstappen decides to leave the sport. Verstappen's future in F1 is uncertain due to his dissatisfaction with the new 2026 regulations. Russell stated that F1 is bigger than any driver and that losing Verstappen would be unfortunate, but the sport would continue. He also acknowledged that Verstappen's complaints are different from those of other top teams because he is at the front of the grid.
Russell believes that Verstappen has achieved everything he can in F1, having won four championships, and may be looking for new challenges. Verstappen has been participating in GT3 endurance racing, which Russell can understand, given Verstappen's success in F1. Russell's goal is to become a Formula 1 world champion, and he expects the competition to intensify as the season progresses.