Martin Brundle has expressed his concern over one element of Max Verstappen's reported talks with Mercedes for the 2026 season.
Verstappen is under contract at Red Bull until 2028, but their poor performance this season has prompted questions over his future.
The reigning four-time champion was forced to retire from the Austrian Grand Prix after being hit by Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli on lap one.
The DNF pushed Red Bull down to fourth in the Constructors' Championship.
Advert
Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko told ORF after the Grand Prix that there are 'performance-based clauses' in Verstappen's contract, but added that there was 'no reason' to suspect that he would leave the team.
However, on Tuesday night, Sky Sports Italia reported that the Dutchman was in talks to sign for Mercedes from 2026.
That followed on from comments from Silver Arrows team principal Toto Wolff, who stated on Friday that he had held preliminary discussions with Verstappen's entourage over his future direction.
Should a deal be completed, the four-time champion would of course have to replace one of George Russell or Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes.
Both drivers are out of contract at the end of 2025, though both have what Wolff described in January as 'very complicated' option clauses.
Russell suggested in Austria last week that his contract talks had been delayed because of Verstappen's future - though Wolff denied that the two were connected.
However, Sky Sports F1 commentator Brundle has expressed his concern for the British driver and thinks he will already be 'ringing around' other teams for 2026.
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Wednesday, Brundle said: "I think George Russell is nervous and ringing around a little bit. There's no smoke without fire.
"2026 is massive, biggest change ever in F1 for the chassis and power unit, and you guess Mercedes will be there or thereabouts. Would you put Red Bull [at the front], and can Max actually get out of his contract? Something is up."
Topics: Max Verstappen, Formula 1, George Russell
Ryan Smart