George Russell says he is open to sharing a car with Max Verstappen in a future 24-hour race, speaking before the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix after Verstappen’s Nürburgring near-miss.

The pair’s F1 rivalry remains edgy, shaped by their 2025 Spanish Grand Prix collision that earned Verstappen a time penalty and damaged his pursuit of a fifth consecutive title.

Complicating matters, Verstappen is linked with a potential Mercedes move, which would place him alongside Russell in F1, as explored in analysis of his future earlier this week.

Russell says elite competition raises his ceiling, citing lessons from partnering Lewis Hamilton. On sharing with Verstappen: “Never say never. Who knows? Max is obviously one of the best.”

The intra-team picture is challenging. Russell trails rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli by 20 points, a gap he addressed in recent comments on his season earlier this month.

Mercedes plans a sizeable upgrade package for Montreal, targeting improved aerodynamic efficiency and stability over bumps. The parts arrive for May 24, aiming to counter Red Bull’s consistent high-speed performance.

Verstappen’s recent Nürburgring 24 Hours bid underlines his adaptability. He ran at the front before a driveshaft failure ended contention, reinforcing his endurance credentials beyond F1.

A joint endurance entry would hinge on calendars, manufacturer politics, and Balance of Performance. Mixed-driver line-ups are common in GT3, yet brand allegiances complicate Mercedes‑Red Bull collaboration.

For Russell, the broader target remains contention over a full season. His title aspirations, set out in recent goals for 2026, rest on delivering upgrades and reducing execution errors.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.