George Russell would relish the challenge of Max Verstappen joining Mercedes.
The Formula 1 world champion has been linked with a move away from Red Bull following chief technical officer Adrian Newey’s departure from the team and the Silver Arrows have been tipped as a potential destination for the Dutchman.
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Mercedes have an open seat for the 2025 season after Lewis Hamilton announced he would be leaving the team after 11 years to join Ferrari alongside Charles Leclerc.
The announcement shocked the paddock and rumours have been circulating ever since about the future of several other drivers.
Kimi Antonelli is another name tipped to make the step into the absent Mercedes car next year, but there are reportedly doubts over whether the 17-year-old would be able to complete straight away having barely started his career in Formula 2.
Russell made the move from Williams in 2022 and has done well to challenge the seven-time world champion in Hamilton and he insists he wants to race alongside the best in order to prove himself.
He said: “Yeah, I’d be all for it, to be honest.
🚨 | George Russell says he isn’t afraid of being teammates with Verstappen.
“I want to go against the best.”https://t.co/3QryHBnta4
— formularacers (@formularacers_) May 3, 2024
“I think coming into Mercedes in 2022 was off the back of Lewis’ legendary years and victories.
“And that was a huge task for anybody, jumping into a team where he’s been for so long.
“And you need to go against the best, in the same machinery, and show what you’ve got.
“I feel that having Lewis as my teammate for the last three years, he’s been a hell of a teammate, such a great driver. We push each other, every single week. It’s fair to say that.
“I would welcome Max. I want to go against the best – everybody wants to prove what they’ve got. So, yeah, make it happen.”
Verstappen has quashed rumours ahead of the Miami Grand Prix this weekend and insists he only wants to be racing in the best car.
Mercedes have not challenged for the championship in two years since the epic battle between the current champion and Hamilton in 2021.
The 26-year-old added: “My future is within Red Bull at the moment.
“Even if that were to be the case [earning €150m], money would not be the difference to make me go somewhere else.
“I know myself, and if I’m driving for P5 or P6, you get quite grumpy with yourself.
“It’s always about performances at the end of the day, everyone knows that and Toto [Wolff] also knows that.”
