George Russell could replace F1 driver who Max Verstappen said made an ‘unbelievable’ mistake

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George Russell has stepped up as Mercedes’ leading driver since Lewis Hamilton’s departure, but his future remains up in the air with Toto Wolff still chasing Max Verstappen.

Russell took charge of the team this year following Hamilton’s move to Ferrari. Even though he’s been responsible for 147 of Mercedes’ 210 points so far, his contract is set to expire at the end of 2025, and there hasn’t been any movement on a new deal yet.

Mercedes are holding off on contract talks with both Russell and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who replaced Hamilton on a one-year deal. Wolff is waiting to see if Verstappen becomes available after 2025, with the Dutchman reportedly interested in a move.

Verstappen’s contract at Red Bull runs until 2028, but it does include several release clauses. One of them would allow him to leave if he drops out of the top three in the drivers’ standings by this summer.

Alpine could join Red Bull and Cadillac in the race to sign George Russell

Russell would need to outscore Verstappen by at least 19 points across the Belgian Grand Prix, which also includes a Sprint, and the Hungarian GP for the four-time champion’s exit clause to be triggered. Leclerc currently trails by 46 points, with 58 still up for grabs before the break.

A direct swap with Verstappen is one possibility if Mercedes decide not to renew Russell and instead bring in Verstappen. But according to Mundo Deportivo, Alpine are now considering offering Russell a seat for the 2026 season.

There are also questions about Red Bull’s engine plans for 2026, as they’ll be building their own power unit in partnership with Ford for the first time. If Russell prefers a long-term project over immediate results, Alpine might make more sense than Red Bull.

The Enstone team values his speed and leadership skills and could look to replace Franco Colapinto with him. But they may have competition from Cadillac, who are keeping an eye on his situation ahead of their debut season.

Aston Martin were previously linked with interest but are now expected to stick with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, whose contracts remain in place.

• READ MORE: Red Bull’s Helmut Marko issues Belgian GP warning that could end Max Verstappen’s 2025 F1 title hopes

Christian Horner could get in the way of Russell’s potential move to Alpine

Alpine executive adviser Flavio Briatore could create a roadblock in the team’s pursuit of Mercedes driver Russell, who would replace Colapinto for the 2026 F1 season. Christian Horner has been linked with a return to the sport following his dismissal from Red Bull.

If Briatore decides to appoint Horner to a position at Alpine, it could complicate matters further. Horner had already played a role in blocking Red Bull’s attempt to bring Russell in as Verstappen’s replacement, if they need a new driver next season.

If Mercedes do decide to release him, Russell would become one of the most sought-after names on the market.

Alpine will want clarity on whether Russell is open to joining them for 2026, especially as Colapinto continues to face criticism over his step up from replacing Jack Doohan. The 22-year-old remains without a single point after six rounds heading into the Belgian GP.

Verstappen was also frustrated by Colapinto’s failure to observe blue flags during the Spanish Grand Prix, calling it ‘unbelievable’. The Argentine had already annoyed Verstappen earlier in Imola and Monaco, and even Briatore admitted he was ‘not happy at all’ with Colapinto’s form in Spain.