Briitsh Grand Prix: George Russell 'doesn't think I'll be going anywhere'

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George Russell says he doesn think Ill be going anywhere amid links between his Mercedes team and four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Mercedes have talked to Verstappens management about the possibility of the Dutchman joining them from Red Bull next year. The 27-year-old Briton is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of this season. Speaking at Silverstone on Thursday before this weekends British Grand Prix, Russell said: The likelihood Im not at Mercedes next year, I think, is exceptionally low. Verstappen, who is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028 but is said to have contractual mechanisms which could enable him to leave, said he had nothing to add on the situation. There is no decision at the moment, he said. For me, its not about 26 or whatever. I just focus on what I have ahead of me, work with the team. And of course a lot of people make up assumptions, but thats not me. At last weekends Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said it was likelier that Russell would be at the team next season than Verstappen, but did not deny he was speaking to the world champions representatives. Russell said: I don take that personally because I made it clear from the beginning. Im happy to be team-mates with anybody. I want to continue with Mercedes into the future. The fact is, Toto has never let me down. Hes always given me his word, but hes also got to do whats right for his team, which includes me. But it also includes the thousands of people who work for Mercedes. For me, its nothing to worry about because I don think Ill be going anywhere. And whoever my team-mate will be, it doesn concern me either. I know where their loyalty lies. It doesn need to be public. It doesn need to be broadcast to everybody. I feel Im performing better than ever. And its as simple as that really. Performance speaks for everything. Russell is fourth in the drivers championship, nine points behind Verstappen, and won last months Canadian Grand Prix. Williams driver Alex Albon, who is a friend of Russell and a former team-mate of Verstappen, pointed to Russells performance as team-mate to Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for three years, as well as the fact he has convincingly been ahead of his new team-mate Kimi Antonelli this season. Albon said in a BBC Sport interview: George is somehow underrated. Im not just defending a friend here, but I don know a driver who can beat a seven-time world champion and be not sure of a seat. Hes doing a fantastic year this year as well. And as much as Kimis getting praise, George is still beating him pretty convincingly. So I guess you can sound me standing up for a friend of mine. But even if he wasn my friend, Id still be saying the same words. I just hope the delays coming from him asking for a lot of money. And if he is, he deserves it. Otherwise, George is actually one of the most adaptable drivers on the grid. And wherever it ends up being, I think he should be considered as at the very least a top-three driver on the grid.,