Russell 'not shocked' if Mercedes sign Verstappen: 'He's the best'

Mercedes F1 driver George Russell has made his position known regarding the myriad of rumours that place Max Verstappen in the German team, following a hypothetical Red Bull Racing exit.

That Verstappen is a great driver, Russell is very much aware of, thus comprehending the reasoning behind the rumours that suggest that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff would jump at the chance to sign the 4-time world champion.

"Why wouldn't they want to sign Max? It's totally understandable," Russell told PA in Jeddah ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

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"He's the best at the moment. He's a four-time world champion. That's not anything against me or Kimi [Antonelli]. There's two drivers for every team and he is one person."

Russell then took confidence in his own successes this season to suggest he and the reigning F1 champion were racing at the same level. "So that doesn't concern me one bit because the performance is my currency, and right now I think I am performing as good as anyone on this grid."

Mercedes' team boss, however, whilst reassuring that both Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Russell were indeed performing as Mercedes needed and hoped, he failed to make an assertive claim that shut down the possibility of Verstappen flocking over to the German team.