George Russell has shared his thoughts on Max Verstappen's possible departure from Formula 1, stating that the champion's complaints about the current cars are different from those of other top teams because he is winning. Russell noted that Verstappen did not have the same issues with the previous generation of cars, likely due to his success during that time. The Mercedes driver expressed understanding for Verstappen's potential frustration, given the significant changes in the 2026 regulations, which have shifted the balance between internal combustion and electrical power. Verstappen has been vocal about his dissatisfaction and recently hinted at quitting the sport after this season.
Russell acknowledged that losing Verstappen would be a significant blow to F1 but emphasized that the sport is bigger than any individual driver. He also recognized that Verstappen has already achieved great success, with four world championships, and may be looking for new challenges, such as GT3 endurance racing, which he has recently participated in.
Russell, who is currently chasing his first drivers' title, admitted that he can understand why Verstappen might consider leaving, given his stage in his career, and that it would be understandable if he either stayed or left the sport.