Mercedes signing Max Verstappen and George Russell "common sense" - Zak Brown

Russell and Verstappen in Sakhir 2020 — Photo: © LAT Images

McLaren

Mercedes signing Verstappen and Russell "common sense" - Brown

Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are out of contract at the end of the year

Sam Hall

Friday 26 March 2021 15:44

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has declared it "common sense" for Mercedes to sign George Russell and Max Verstappen to race for the Silver Arrows in 2022.

With Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas both on one-year deals this season, Brown has suggested Mercedes will naturally bring in its junior Russell whose three-year contract with Williams expires at the end of the season.

Brown believes Mercedes would also add Verstappen, who is understood to have an exit clause in a contract that does not expire until the end of 2023.

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Insisting he was not simply stirring the pot to cause headaches for McLaren's rivals, Brown explained: “That’s my opinion. I have no insight as to whether that is going to happen.

"But given George’s relationship with Mercedes, and he is out of contract at the end of the year, you have Lewis on a one-year contract, [and] you have Max who I believe is a free agent at the end of the year, it seems to me this would be the logical choice for Mercedes.

“Whether that ends up happening or not - and I’m not trying to stir it - that’s what it looks like would happen to me.

“I think that would be a common-sense move by Toto to make but I have no insight whether that will be what happens.”

Responding to Brown's claims, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said: "I don't know, it's speculation. Maybe they [Mercedes] are as likely to run Daniel [Ricciardo] and Lando [Norris]!

"We're at the first race, we're very acutely aware of what the contracts with our drivers are. It's a bit early for speculation."

As for Wolff, he added: "I want to keep out of the discussion these two have about who is going to drive for Mercedes."

Clarifying his remarks, Brown said: "Mercedes and Toto and able to attract an awesome driver line-up, so if those two guys [Verstappen and Russell] are floating around, depending on what Toto decides with his current driver line-up, you could see that happening.

"I was asked the question. It wasn't a prediction, it was an opinion."