George Russell says he wants to keep Max Verstappen in F1 but would ‘understand’ if he goes

George Russell says he doesn’t want to 鈥渓ose鈥� Max Verstappen as the four-time champion vents his unhappiness with the new cars.

Verstappen has been the most vocal critic of the 2026 cars’ reliance on electrical power and the compromises it forces drivers to make on track. He’s even suggested it in F1.

Russell is an and has his best shot yet at the title thanks to Mercedes’ strong start to the season. He trails teammate Kimi Antonelli by nine points ahead of the Miami Grand Prix in two weeks.

鈥淔ormula 1鈥檚 bigger than any driver. You wouldn鈥檛 want to lose Max because I think we all enjoy racing against Max,鈥� Russell said Friday, and suggested some of Verstappen’s criticism might be because he and Red Bull aren’t among the title contenders.

鈥淭he complaints that he has currently are different to the complaints of Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren because we鈥檙e at the front end of the grid.鈥�

Russell said Verstappen’s interest in forays into other events like endurance sportscar racing might be linked to having 鈥渘ot really much more for him to achieve鈥� in F1.

鈥淢y goal now is to become a Formula 1 world champion. If I had four of them (titles) under my belt, I鈥檇 probably be doing the same,” Russell said. “He鈥檚 in a very different stage of his career and I think you鈥檇 understand if he stayed and you鈥檇 understand if you went.鈥�

Russell eyes changes

Russell said potential rule changes have been a focus for him during the unexpected mid-season break caused when the races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were called off.

Russell wants to bring back a 鈥渇lat-out鈥� feel to qualifying with less need to lift off the throttle and generate electrical power and says that’s helped by an improved relationship between the drivers and the governing body, the FIA.

鈥淭he FIA have been in a lot of comms with a handful of drivers, and that鈥檚 been collective. And at least from the FIA technical standpoint, it鈥檚 probably the closest relationship we鈥檝e had with them in numerous years, so that鈥檚 very positive to see,鈥� he said.

Antonelli shrugs off pressure

After winning two of the opening three races and becoming F1’s , it’s all about keeping the momentum going for Antonelli.

The 19-year-old Italian has been working on his fitness and says he feels more relaxed than he did in his rookie season last year.

鈥淥bviously, George is super strong and competitors will get closer, so I just need to keep doing what I鈥檓 doing, just trying to raise the bar little by little,鈥� he said.

Being the first Italian means a lot more attention back home, but Antonelli says it won’t affect him.

鈥淚 am aware of obviously the increase of support and following after, especially my first wins, which has been very nice to see. But I don鈥檛 feel more pressure,鈥� he said Friday. 鈥淚 know expectations from people are higher now because obviously I鈥檓 coming off two wins and from a strong start of the season. But at the end of the day I keep my focus on the process, on what I have to do.鈥�

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