George Russell explained that Max Verstappen didn’t share the same grievances as his rivals about the latest generation of Formula 1 cars because he was consistently winning, but he also said he could "understand" why the four‑time world champion might consider stepping away from the sport. Verstappen’s future beyond the current season remains unclear. The Red Bull driver has been outspoken about the new 2026 technical regulations, particularly the 50‑50 split between internal‑combustion power and electric assistance, and how that balance has altered the feeling of the car on the track.
After the Japanese Grand Prix last month, the Dutchman dropped what appears to be his strongest hint yet that he may be thinking about quitting after this year. During a Mercedes media day held during Formula 1’s five‑week hiatus, ahead of the Miami weekend on May 1‑3, Russell was asked whether he thought Verstappen’s departure was a realistic scenario and how the sport would cope if the reigning champion walked away. "Formula 1 is bigger than any one driver," Russell replied.
"You wouldn’t want to lose Max because we all love racing against him." He went on to note that the 2022‑era cars were a nightmare to drive, with severe porpoising that made high‑speed corners uncomfortable and physically demanding. "I didn’t enjoy driving the ’22 car when it was bouncing all over the place, killing everyone’s backs.
The car was heavy, the high‑speed corners were brutal, it wasn’t pleasant at all," he said. "Max didn’t have that complaint because he was winning all the time." Russell highlighted that Verstappen’s current complaints differ from those of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. "We’re at the front of the grid now, so his frustrations are natural," he explained. "He’s achieved what most drivers only dream of – four world championships.
At some point you reach a stage where there isn’t much left to prove in Formula 1. He’s ticked every box, maybe now he’ll chase records instead of titles." The Mercedes driver, who is still hunting his first championship, said he can "totally understand" why Verstappen, after such a dominant career, is spending time in GT‑3 endurance racing at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, an event he will return to this weekend. "Knowing Max and other drivers who have already accomplished so much, you eventually want to do something that simply makes you smile," Russell added.
"I’ve done hundreds of laps on the Nordschleife simulator, and I’d love the chance to race there for real." He contrasted that with his own ambition: "My goal right now is to become a Formula 1 world champion. If I ever win four titles, I think I’d be in the same boat as Max.
He’s at a very different stage of his career." Russell summed up his perspective: "I’d understand if he stays, and I’d also understand if he goes." Verstappen himself, after the Suzuka race, said he could accept finishing in P7 or P8, but added that when a driver is stuck in those positions and isn’t enjoying the car, it feels unnatural for a racer. While Red Bull looks unlikely to challenge for the championship this year, Mercedes has reinforced its status as the early‑season favourite, having won the opening three Grands Prix under the new regulation package.
The mandatory April break gave teams a chance to return to their factories and work on the cars. Russell, who slipped to second in the drivers’ standings behind his teammate Kimi Antonelli after Japan, doesn’t expect a dramatic reshuffle when the championship resumes in Miami, but he acknowledges that Mercedes’ early advantage cannot last forever with 19 races still to run.
Reflecting on the first three rounds – where Mercedes claimed one win and Antonelli two – Russell said: "We definitely hit the ground running, and you could see that across the power‑unit manufacturers. At least for us and Ferrari, being a factory team gives us a deeper understanding of energy management than the customer teams." He praised the work of the hundreds of engineers and the extensive simulator program that has been in place for three years: "That’s why we have a clear edge now, but those big gaps we saw in Melbourne are already narrowing, and everyone will keep learning race by race." "The field will gradually bunch up, but I don’t anticipate any sudden, dramatic changes. Our pace advantage won’t be permanent; the others will be hot on our heels," he concluded.
At present Antonelli leads Russell by nine points at the top of the Drivers’ Championship, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc 23 points back in third. The season returns on May 1‑3 with the Miami Grand Prix, the second Sprint weekend of the year, to be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.