Johnny Herbert worries about George Russell’s Mercedes future after what he’s heard

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has claimed George Russell’s long-term Mercedes future isn’t secure

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George Russell has enjoyed a great start to the season (Image: Getty)

Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert has suggested that George Russell’s long-term future at Mercedes isn’t guaranteed, despite his strong opening to the season. Russell, 27, won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix earlier this month before claiming second place – behind team-mate Kimi Antonelli – at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend.

He leads the Drivers’ Standings having accumulated 51 points from the opening two races and is the bookmakers’ favourite to claim the world championship by season’s end.

However, ex-Sauber and Jaguar driver Herbert, who was a regular fixture on the F1 grid throughout the 1990s, reckons that Russell could be shown the exit by Mercedes in the near future.

Herbert, who was speaking alongside Damon Hill on the Stay On Track podcast, said: “I’ve heard little rumours again that with Max not being very happy where he is… is he going to be taken by Mercedes, which means they are going to get rid of George.”

Hill said in response: “So George is always temporary.”

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Max Verstappen faces an uncertain future at Red Bull(Image: Getty)

Whilst both Russell and Antonelli have secured a victory and a runner-up finish this season, the Brit holds a four-point advantage over his team-mate in the Drivers’ Standings thanks to winning the sprint race in China.

Antonelli finished behind Russell in second place in Australia before emerging victorious in the second race of the campaign at the Shanghai International Circuit. And 1996 F1 world champion Hill has questioned whether Antonelli, 19, has now leapt above Russell to become Mercedes’ preferred driver.

“Kimi is Toto’s protégé, if you like. He’s put his reputation on the line to get this guy in,” Hill said. “Kimi doesn’t want to let him down, but at the same time, he’s thankful to Toto, and Toto’s delighted that he’s now won a race.

“Meanwhile, George has been trying his very best to impress them for now I don’t know how many seasons. It got to a point last year where they had to re-sign and it went on a bit. It wasn’t like Toto was desperate to re-sign George.”

Russell penned a new contract at Mercedes last October to keep him through to the end of the 2026 season.

The deal, frequently described as a one-plus-one or a “multi-year” agreement, contains performance-based clauses that can automatically extend his stay into 2027 based on achieving specific targets, placing his future in his own hands.

Russell and Antonelli are set to go head-to-head in the next F1 race in Japan this weekend.