Natalie Pinkham has spotted a George Russell change that highlights exactly which F1 team he should be driving for in 2026

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There are eight Formula 1 seats currently up for grabs in 2026 and Mercedes have two of them as silly season arrives.

It means that George Russell finds himself out of contract at the end of the current campaign, unless he can negotiate a new deal before then.

Mercedes’ on-track performance has dramatically improved over the winter and they now sit second in the constructors’ championship.

Effectively, the team could opt for a complete reset ahead of the 2026 F1 regulations, but it might not be the best thing for them to do from a stability standpoint.

Mercedes have decided Russell is secondary to Max Verstappen, with Ted Kravitz suggesting that signing the reigning champion may be their priority.

It comes just weeks after Russell ‘struggled massively’ at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and managed fifth place, equalling his worst result of the campaign.

READ MORE: F1 fans are all telling George Russell the same thing after holding ‘informal chats’ with Christian Horner over Red Bull seat

George Russell change Natalie Pinkham spotted shows he should drive for Mercedes in 2026

Russell has been one of the most consistent performers in 2025 and may be McLaren’s closest challenger for the drivers’ title.

Juan Pablo Montoya thinks Toto Wolff should give Russell an ultimatum by forcing him to welcome Verstappen to the team, or leave.

That would leave Kimi Antonelli in an interesting position, but Natalie Pinkham thinks that the young Italian’s arrival has brought about a change for Russell.

“I think he’s really enjoying himself as well. He seems much more relaxed somehow and I think you’re right. Antonelli is a different type of pressure for him,” she said.

“He’s being a generous teammate, he publicly acknowledges how talented Kimi is. But he is just getting on with it and I just love the energy that the team are giving off at the moment.”

READ MORE: George Russell names the Formula 1 race that changed his ‘mentality’ before his Mercedes promotion, ‘will teach me nothing…’

Which other Formula 1 teams could George Russell sign with for 2026?

The other six seats on the grid are split between four teams, but they’re not the most attractive of openings.

It’s pretty much guaranteed that he wouldn’t take one of the two seats on offer at Visa Cash App RB, leaving two seats at Cadillac, one at Alpine and one at Red Bull.

With Cadillac being a new team, leaving a factory outfit to join an operation on that scale would be a tough pill to swallow. It would be a surprise.

The two most likely options away from Mercedes are Red Bull and Alpine. One of which has been a fierce competitor for years, while the other has struggled to perform as hoped.

There are many factors involved, but with the new regulations approaching, the wisest move would probably be to remain where he is, particularly amid suggestions that Mercedes’ engine could be really strong.