Horner Fires Back: “Why Russell? Is he definitely staying at Mercedes? It’s impossible to say…”

Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, hits back: “Max staying? You can’t say it’s 100% certain — so why should Russell be?”

He doesn’t deny — he fires back. The fierce rivalry between Mercedes and Red Bull is still alive well after 2021, with Toto Wolff and Christian Horner continuing to trade jabs from afar.

And this time, the topic is a potential move for Max Verstappen to Mercedes — a scenario that could leave George Russell without a seat in Brackley, despite his strong performances.

Christian Horner’s Words

Speaking to Sky Sport F1 during his home Grand Prix at Silverstone, Horner said: “We have a great relationship with Max. The agreement we have with him will always remain private between us and the team. Right now, we’re fully focused on performance. If everything stays as it is today, then yes, he’ll be 100% with us next year.”

But when asked if he could guarantee that Verstappen will stay with Red Bull in 2026, Horner stepped back: “It’s impossible to say someone is staying 100%. That goes for anyone. Can George Russell say with certainty that he’ll be 100% at Mercedes?”

Regarding the rumors about talks between Verstappen and Mercedes, Horner kept things diplomatic: “We have a long-standing relationship with Max, and we’re focused on what matters: performance. We know we’re not in the position we want to be in. The focus is on getting back to being more competitive — and Max is fully part of that effort.”

Finally, on whether Red Bull has a plan B in case the Dutchman were to leave, Horner concluded: “Inside the team, there’s full clarity on the situation. Max himself has clarity. It’s up to us to deliver a car that’s worthy of him.”

Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing