Helmut Marko has provided an update on Red Bull’s driver dilemma (Image: Getty)
has confirmed that will not pursue a move for despite the comments of team principal . Instead, the reigning champions are focusing on the development of and .
Russell is out of contract at the end of next season and with ’s future uncertain and reportedly a target for both and Aston Martin, it is highly likely that will need at least one new driver in their line-up for the 2026 season.
“We just want to take time to consider what those options look like for the future – and we’re not afraid to go out of the pool,” Horner told Sky Sports F1. “ is out of contract at the end of the next year. It would be foolish not to take that into consideration. There are other – talented drivers – that could well be out of contract as well.”
These comments did not produce a good response from boss , who hit back: “Christian is always trying to stir s*** up,” he hit back. “It’s part of the game. George is a driver, has been forever and hopefully will be forever. We have a long contract with him.”
However, the boss can relax as according to Marko, have no real interest in poaching Russell from the Brackley-based team. With strong talents in their driver pool, the reigning world champions are instead looking inward moving forward.
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George Russell is still a key part of Mercedes’ plans (Image: Getty)
” is on a par with [Lewis] Hamilton in qualifying, if not faster,” Marko told Formel1.de. “But Russell is -Benz-affiliated, and now we are focusing on our juniors.
“We see this with [Franco] Colapinto, for example, he was relatively inexperienced and not very successful in the junior series, although it has to be said that he never had the best teams.
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“But what an incredible performance he is putting in now. And now let’s see what our juniors or even a can do. He can also be described as a junior. But as I mentioned earlier, how does he compare to a Lawson?”
’s talent goes beyond the incumbent duo of Tsunoda and Lawson too. In Isack Hadjar they have a driver who is battling for the Formula Two title, and Arvid Lindblad and Ayumu Iwasa are also exciting prospects, even if the latter’s F1 hopes have stalled out somewhat since making the move to Super Formula.