Max Verstappen & Kimi Antonelli Emerge as New Mercedes Pairing With Toto Wolf “Urgently Needing a World Champion”

What if George Russell’s Mercedes seat isn’t safe? All this while, Lewis Hamilton‘s exit has forced the spotlight onto the second seat. Andrea Kimi Antonelli is Team Principal Toto Wolff’s top choice for it unless Max Verstappen changes his mind about staying loyal to Red Bull. However, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher has raised a theory that sees Verstappen ‘jeopardizing’ Russell’s seat.

Ahead of the Canadian GP, Toto Wolff declared 17-year-old Antonelli a crucial part of Mercedes”re-inventive’ future. No sooner did it seem that Wolff’s attention from luring Max Verstappen had shifted than F1 journalist Tim Harauney revealed the Austrian’s intentions to still sign the 3-time champion if the opportunity presented itself. With Wolff giving both of these drivers such importance, Ralf Schumacher believes Russell needs to catch up or risk being axed.

“If Verstappen really decides to leave Red Bull, I can imagine that there will be a seat for him at Mercedes,” the German said, as quoted by f1maximaal. “Russell is or was a super talent, but he also makes a lot of mistakes,” he pointed out. “If there is a world champion on the market, I can imagine that Russell’s job will be in jeopardy.”

Schumacher dove deeper into the Mercedes dynamics to justify his claim. “Mercedes would’ve won the race in Canada with Verstappen. That’s clear,” he added, without a shred of doubt. “Verstappen is the driver who makes a big difference. Mercedes has been going through a lesser period for a long time and urgently needs a world champion to get back to the front. Verstappen is a man who comes across as conservative, pleasant, and sporty. I can imagine that Wolff and Mercedes would do a lot with and for him,” Schumacher concluded.

In his last two opportunities to shine, Russell has crumbled under pressure, crashing out in the final lap of the 2023 Singapore GP, costing him a chance at victory, and the 2024 Canadian GP, where he lost the race lead to finish in third. This indeed indicates how Mercedes could use Verstappen in their car. Alas, that might be a pipe dream considering ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya’s prediction.

Juan Pablo Montoya bets money on Max Verstappen not quitting Red Bull

Rumors about Max Verstappen quitting Red Bull emerged after the Christian Horner scandal aired the team’s dirty laundry. His father, Jos Verstappen, was seen conversing with Toto Wolff after the Bahrain GP. But the tension within Red Bull has seemingly subsided, with Horner and Helmut Marko calling it a ‘truce’ and ending the ‘power struggle’.

In this scenario, peace has been restored, and they still have the fastest car. Why would Verstappen leave? Juan Pablo Montoya uses the same rationale to say, “That’s (Verstappen’s exit) not going to happen. Max is not going to leave. I bet money with you that he will be back in the Red Bull next season. Believe me, as a driver, you never voluntarily step out of a winning car.”

George Russell’s seat will be safe as long as Red Bull satisfies Verstappen’s ambitions. However, with Mercedes showing improved performance in Canada, if sustained, it could change the pecking order and, in turn, the Dutchman’s mind.