George Russell heads into this Bahrain Grand Prix weekend on the back of a strong start to the new Formula 1 season for Mercedes, yet uncertainty remains over his future
Don’t expect to see Toto Wolff follow through on the positive noises he has been making regarding George Russell’s future any time soon. The Brit has enjoyed an impressive start to the new season and is proving that he is capable of leading the Silver Arrows in Lewis Hamilton’s absence.
But as it stands his contract is up at the end of this season and there is one big, Dutch factor that looks set to play a key role in whether he will get the extension he wants. Wolff is in a tricky position – two excellent drivers on the books in Russell and young hotshot Kimi Antonelli, but there is the temptation of a potentially available Max Verstappen.
The four-time champion has a Red Bull contract until 2028 but it’s no secret that there are performance clauses included in that deal. And the word in the paddock is that some of them could kick in as early as this summer, potentially allowing him to look elsewhere if he is low enough in the championship standings.
That explains why, despite his positive comments about Russell’s form and future with Mercedes, team principal Wolff isn’t in a rush to get the Brit to put pen to paper. And who can blame him? Russell is very talented and a potential champion but Verstappen is the same age and already a bona fide all-time F1 great.
If there is even just a small chance the Dutchman will be available, Wolff is doing the right thing by keeping his options open. With new engine rules coming into force next year, and given Mercedes’ track record when it comes to making fearsome power units, they will surely be an attractive option for Verstappen if he does become frustrated at Red Bull.
They will have to fight hard with Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll, who has not only financial firepower on his side but also the tempting prospect of a reunion with celebrated designer Adrian Newey. To stop both of them, Red Bull will have to deliver a car in the coming months that can start winning regularly again.
FIA continues to be its own worst enemy
The last week has proven that common sense continues to elude the top brass at the FIA. Even before Thursday’s bombshell resignation from deputy president Robert Reid, there was the nonsense decision to fine Carlos Sainz for missing the start of the Japanese Grand Prix anthem by… five WHOLE seconds.
Learn more
Formula 1 fans can watch every practice, qualifying and race live with Sky’s new Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in a new deal that saves £192.
As well as Sky Sports access, this includes more than 100 TV channels and free subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
Why was he late? A run to the toilet and a medical exam by a doctor who verified that he had sought assistance for stomach discomfort. But instead of using their brains and realising that drivers are human, the FIA stewards slapped him with a whopping £17,000 fine. As Russell put it, his toilet trip turned out to be “a pretty expensive poo”.
From the archive
The Bahrain Grand Prix was the setting for one of the most memorable battles between Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, the 2014 ‘Duel in the Desert’, which set the tone for the three seasons of intense rivalry between the two Mercedes title-chasers.
Fast fact
Most F1 tracks have multiple named corners but there is just one at the Bahrain International Circuit – turn one is simply called ‘Michael Schumacher’ in honour of the stricken racing legend.
Inside track
Poor Felipe Drugovich got a rare run-out for Aston Martin in practice yesterday but continues to be stuck in the same purgatory he entered after winning the 2022 Formula 2 title. A future Aston race seat looks highly unlikely, though there were some talks with Cadillac at Suzuka last week.