Russell Comments on Verstappen's Potential F1 Departure
Max Verstappen's highest finish so far this season is sixth.
George Russell has stated that Formula 1 would not want to lose Max Verstappen but would understand if the four-time world champion chose to leave the sport this year. Verstappen expressed doubts about his future in F1 at the Japanese Grand Prix, citing dissatisfaction with the cars' behavior under the new regulations introduced this season.
Russell, who has had a challenging relationship with Verstappen in the past, remarked:
"Formula 1 is bigger than any driver, so you wouldn't want to lose Max, because I think we all enjoy racing against Max."
He added:
"You'd understand if he stayed and you'd understand if he went."
Verstappen's concerns focus on the new power units introduced this year and the extensive energy management they require. The engines now operate with an almost equal split between internal combustion and electrical power. This, combined with complex regulatory constraints, has introduced a new style of driving and racing.
Verstappen has expressed dissatisfaction with two main changes: qualifying laps are no longer consistently performed at the limit due to the need to recharge the battery, and racing is affected by significant variations in battery charge levels and the introduction of "overtaking" and "boost" modes. These factors result in substantial speed differences between cars.
New Cars Divide Drivers' Opinions
There is debate among drivers about whether the new cars are "just not F1" or "a lot of fun."
Potential Solutions to Retain Verstappen in F1
Russell believes Verstappen's complaints are partly influenced by Red Bull's lack of competitiveness at the start of the season.
He said:
"I didn't enjoy driving the 2022 car when it was porpoising up and down, killing everybody's backs. The car was big, it was heavy. The high-speed corners, it wasn't very pleasant to drive around. But he didn't have the same complaint, because he was winning."
Russell continued:
"Now, the complaints that he has currently are different to the complaints of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren, because we're at the front end of the grid. This is only natural, and you do understand and recognise the frustration."
Russell also noted Verstappen's achievements and his growing interest in sportscar racing, particularly at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, a 14-mile circuit in Germany known as the most challenging track globally and considered too dangerous for modern F1 cars.
He said:
"He's achieved what most drivers dream of, which is winning a championship. He's got four of them. There's not really much more for him to achieve in Formula 1. He's ticked all the boxes.
Maybe he can go after the records. But knowing him as I do and knowing drivers who have won or achieved similar things, at one point, you want to do what puts a smile on your face.
I can totally understand why driving the Nordschleife puts a smile on his face. I've driven hundreds of laps around it on the simulator. And I would love to have that chance to go and race around the Nordschleife.
But my goal now is to become a Formula 1 world champion. If I have four of them under my belt, I'd probably be doing the same, so he's in a very different stage of his career."
Addressing Engine Rules: The 'Low-Hanging Fruit'
As a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, Russell has been involved in discussions aimed at addressing drivers' concerns about the new regulations.
He outlined two main points:
"The two headline points are flat-out qualifying, so no lift and coast, and then reducing the closing speeds."
Russell mentioned there is considerable "low-hanging fruit" that rule-makers can address, such as removing the lower limit on battery recharge power at full throttle, known in F1 as 'super-clipping.'
Currently, this limit is set at 250 kW, whereas the maximum recharge limit of 350 kW can be applied when a driver lifts off the throttle or brakes. The lower limit forces drivers to engage in more 'lift and coast'—lifting off the accelerator and coasting before braking for corners.
Russell explained:
"The minus 350 kilowatts super-clip is a no-brainer, and that already in itself is going to avoid a lot of lift and coast."
"And there's other small parts of the regulation that say you can only de-rate the engine [recover energy] at a certain rate. So on a very short straight, there isn't enough time to go from 350 kW to a super-clip because the straight is too short.
Some small changes around these regulations will have a major improvement for the overall driving experience.
This break's offered a good opportunity for everyone to go around that loop. The FIA have been in a lot of comms with a handful of drivers."
Verstappen as a Keystone in the Driver Market
Verstappen's position and decisions are considered pivotal within the Formula 1 driver market.
Russell Reflects on His Season Performance
Kimi Antonelli (left) finished second in Australia to Russell, whose lowest finish this season is fourth in Japan.
Russell entered the five-week break, caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix, second in the championship standings, trailing his teammate Kimi Antonelli by nine points.
The Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix were challenging for Russell. He experienced a technical issue during qualifying in China, where Antonelli secured pole position and converted it into a win. In Japan, a safety car incident helped the Italian teenager move to the front after a slow start.
Russell stated:
"When I look at the circumstance of the last two races, I actually feel like I've maximised my results and that's all I can do.
As long as I maximise my points by the end of the season, what happens race by race, no-one remembers. And that is my goal.
That is what I'm confident in achieving over a course of a championship, consistency. Good results on the bad days, victory on the good days, and that is going to continue to be my goal every single weekend."
Antonelli, who has won two of the three races this season, commented:
"It's been a better start than what we all anticipated and hoped for, at least on my side. Expectations are automatically a bit different now.
But I still try to keep the same mindset as I had in the first three races, just trying to put myself in the best position as possible to then achieve a great result.
What I don't want to do is start to think about the final result or a long-term result."
Antonelli wins to become youngest title leader.
