George Russell and Max Verstappen could exchange their seats in Formula 1 in 2026, a hypothesis which is shaking up the transfer market according to information from F1 Actu. Max Verstappen, quadruple world champion and pillar of Red Bull, could activate an exit clause before the new technical regulations of 2026. Although loyal to Red Bull for the moment, rumors associate him seriously with Mercedes, where Toto Wolff, on good terms with him, could welcome him after losing Lewis Hamilton, leaving for Ferrari.
Common interests to exchange?
For his part, George Russell, under contract with Mercedes until the end of 2025, distinguished himself by a solid season, surpassing Hamilton in points and pole positions. However, the emergence of talented Kimi Antonelli, signed by Mercedes, could weaken his position. Red Bull, via Christian Horner, would therefore show an interest in Russell, seduced by his performances, in particular his victory in Las Vegas. If Verstappen leaves Red Bull, Russell could therefore become a prime candidate for leadership, supported by a teammate like Yuki Tsunoda or Liam Lawson.
Such an exchange would obviously upset the balance of power in F1. Mercedes is expected to balance its future between Antonelli and the attraction of Verstappen, while Red Bull would look to maintain its dominance by banking on Russell. Finally, the historic tensions between Verstappen and Russell, exacerbated at the end of the 2024 season, could redefine their relations in a scenario where they swap their respective teams.
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To summarize
Will Max Verstappen and George Russell swap seats in the very near future? The question is on the table. In any case, the F1Actu site has been discussing this possibility in recent hours with converging interests.
