George Russell has privately said which team he would want to race for in 2026 if he were Max Verstappen

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Max Verstappen effectively has his pick of Formula 1 teams. There are few people in the paddock who would argue he isn’t the best driver on the grid right now.

With the exception, perhaps, of McLaren, every F1 team would likely make room for the Dutchman if given the opportunity. He’s the only all-time great who’s currently in his prime.

Of course, there are only a few teams who could tempt Verstappen to leave Red Bull. His leading suitors this year have been Mercedes, who have yet to announce contract extensions for either George Russell or Kimi Antonelli.

That effectively put Mercedes out of sync with the rest of the F1 driver market. Verstappen isn’t keen on Aston Martin right now but they could enter the fray in 2026 if Adrian Newey makes an immediate impact, while Ferrari can’t be definitively ruled out either.

George Russell explains why Max Verstappen is wise to stay at Red Bull next year

Verstappen has ruled out joining Mercedes for 2026, but he will reassess his future next year. The pecking order could look very different given the scale of the upcoming regulation changes.

Red Bull are willing to let Verstappen leave before 2027 if they don’t deliver. His patient approach may therefore be rewarded.

AMuS journalist Michael Schmidt revealed on Friday that a ‘fellow driver’ had told him that Verstappen could make ‘a much better choice’ in 12 months. He’s now confirmed that the driver in question was Russell.

Russell is set for a new Mercedes contract now that Verstappen has committed to Red Bull. But while he’s the direct beneficiary, he genuinely sees the merits of his rival’s decision.

Schmidt said on the Formel Schmidt podcast: “I had a quick chat with George Russell, who says that, ‘If I were Verstappen, especially with the opportunities he has – they’re all chasing him – then I’d rather wait a year [at Red Bull] and decide with that knowledge.

“‘When I know whether they’re on the right track or not, then I’d make my decision and have a much larger selection. There’s actually no use for him to go to Mercedes now’.”

Max Verstappen was won over by one statement Laurent Mekies made at Spa

The consensus is that Mercedes have built the best ICE for 2026, but that only accounts for 50% of a car’s power output as the sport goes semi-electric. The Silver Arrows are the favourites, but it’s hard to make any confident predictions.

Verstappen has already said the batteries are an unknown, which indicates that he’s not entirely sold on the Mercedes project yet. Likewise, while he clearly has concerns about Red Bull, these aren’t yet terminal for the relationship.

What’s more, Laurent Mekies issued a ‘declaration of love’ for Verstappen in his first weekend as team principal. That made the 27-year-old feel more appreciated and revived his fading loyalty.

Verstappen could theoretically hold up the market next year if the uncertainty over his future continues. On the evidence of recent rule cycles, the early pacesetters could have a lasting advantage.