Many Formula 1 drivers will tell you that just because you have a contract, it doesn’t guarantee your future in the sport.
Last season, Nyck de Vries only lasted 10 races before being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo.
And while Red Bull were delighted to announce that they had extended Sergio Perez’s deal until the end of 2026, it’s understood he needs to hit certain targets to guarantee the second year of that contract.
The Mexican will also be well aware that if his performances don’t improve then racing for the current champions in 2025 might even be a stretch.
Speaking to Sky Sports DE, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher was talking about some potential moves on the grid.
Specifically, Schumacher was examining what could happen at Mercedes as they prepare their line-up for next year.
Toto Wolff hasn’t hidden his desire to sign Max Verstappen, while youngster Kimi Antonelli is expected to replace Lewis Hamilton.
Schumacher believes that if Mercedes can somehow convince Verstappen to join the team next year, then it’s George Russell who might end up missing out.
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Ralf Schumacher suggests George Russell is still at risk of losing his Mercedes seat
With Lewis Hamilton departing the team at the end of the year for Ferrari, George Russell is expected to step up as team leader in 2025.
He’s out-qualified the seven-time world champion at nearly every race this season and secured his first podium of the year in Canada.
However, Max Verstappen is a driver of a completely different calibre and it’s not a surprise that Mercedes are keeping close tabs on his happiness at Red Bull.
Antonelli is incredibly inexperienced, having only completed 10 races at F2 level after dominating FRECA last year.
The 17-year-old is the great hope within the Mercedes academy and Wolff sees him as a prodigy of the same calibre as Verstappen.
Schumacher believes that if Mercedes get the chance to pair those two drivers then they will take it, leaving Russell out in the cold.
While it wouldn’t be too late necessarily for him to find a new seat should Mercedes somehow pull off a move for Verstappen, it would immediately put him on the back foot.
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Schumacher: “From Toto Wolff’s point of view, Kimi Antonelli deserves the chance, and there are apparently contractual agreements in place.
“It doesn’t say which team it has to be with – but because Williams is spoken for, I assume that it will be with Mercedes.
“Wolff himself has said that he wants to focus on the future. Now is the perfect time.
“Mercedes is in a state of upheaval again and had an excellent race in Canada. This is the ideal time for Antonelli to warm up.
“If Max Verstappen really decides to leave Red Bull, I can imagine that there will be a seat for him at Mercedes.
“Then it could be rather bad for George Russell. He is or was a super talent, but he also makes a lot of mistakes.
“If a world champion is then on the market, I can imagine that George Russell’s job could also be in jeopardy.”
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Schumacher is pondering a scenario that seems incredibly unlikely to happen, let alone for the start of the 2025 season.
Ted Kravitz has shared one situation where he could see Verstappen make the Mercedes switch this year, although he also caveated that it was extremely doubtful.
Only time will tell to see whether Verstappen will see out his long-term deal with Red Bull, but Wolff won’t give up hope that he could one day work alongside the triple world champion.
The post ‘Could be rather bad’: Ralf Schumacher says ‘super talent’ is one driver move away from dropping off the grid appeared first on F1 Oversteer.