Last Updated on February 26 2026, 7:40 am
Mercedes star voices explosive suspicions – There was never much chance of an exchange of holiday postcards between George Russell and Max Verstappen. Respect, perhaps. Rivalry, certainly. Friendship? Unlikely — at least while they are both fighting for supremacy in Formula 1.
And this tension did not emerge in a vacuum. Over the past two seasons, their rivalry has spilled onto the track more than once.
Flashpoints on the track
At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the pair famously clashed in a sprint race that ended with Verstappen furious over contact and visible damage to his Red Bull. Russell, unflustered, dismissed the outrage as part of hard racing. Meanwhile, Verstappen made it clear that he would not forget the incident quickly. This exchange set the tone: neither driver was prepared to yield an inch.
Then came the Qatar Grand Prix, where strategic disagreements and wheel-to-wheel moments once again put them in the spotlight. Although there was no dramatic collision, their body language and pointed post-race comments spoke volumes. Each driver suggested the other had overstepped the mark. Each insisted they were simply racing hard.
Even during quieter race weekends, subtle jibes have emerged in interviews and media sessions. Russell has questioned Verstappen’s aggressive style. Verstappen has implied that some rivals talk more than they deliver. No explicit name-calling is required; the subtext is clear to all.
Against this backdrop, the latest revelations in Drive to Survive feel less like a sudden explosion and more like a simmering situation that has finally boiled over.
Russell: “The Verstappens have a lot of power”
In the Netflix series, Russell does not mince his words. Reflecting on the internal turbulence at Red Bull and the departure of long-standing team boss Christian Horner, the Mercedes driver makes a pointed observation: “The Verstappens clearly have a lot of power in this team.”
It is a statement that lands heavily. Russell is not merely talking about on-track performance or championship leverage. He is suggesting influence, the kind that shapes boardroom decisions and determines leadership futures.
He continues: “They like to manipulate situations, and quite often at that.”
By ‘they’, he means Max and his father, Jos Verstappen, a figure long known for his direct involvement in his son’s career. Russell’s implication is clear: in his view, the Verstappens do more than just react to political situations, they help engineer them.
The Horner Factor
One of the most intriguing plotlines in the new series is Horner’s dramatic exit from Red Bull. Russell hints that the Verstappens’ dissatisfaction with Horner may have played a decisive role.
“For whatever reason, they don’t like Horner and are trying to get rid of him.”
It is a serious allegation. According to Russell, the tension between the Verstappens and Horner was not just personal friction, but part of a broader strategic struggle.
Horner himself offers a somewhat different interpretation. While acknowledging past issues with Jos Verstappen, he instead pointed towards Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, suggesting that he was influenced by motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.
As ever in Formula 1, there can be multiple versions of the truth.
A Mercedes move as leverage?
Russell also touches on another long-running rumour: Verstappen’s alleged flirtation with Mercedes. For months, speculation has circulated about a potential switch, a narrative that intensifies whenever Red Bull appears unstable.
Russell wonders aloud whether that speculation was entirely organic: “I wonder if this is some kind of game to put pressure on Red Bull, so that he will only stay if Christian leaves.”
The implication is bold. According to Russell, even transfer rumours could be used as strategic tools to gain leverage in high-stakes internal negotiations.
Such claims are impossible to verify from the outside. However, the fact that a current Mercedes driver considers the possibility highlights just how deep the mistrust runs.
Rivalry beyond lap times
The Russell-Verstappen dynamic has long been tense. Both drivers are fiercely ambitious, unapologetically confident and unwilling to concede psychological ground. In that sense, they are cut from a similar cloth: alpha competitors operating in a sport where perception can matter as much as pace. One wonders if Mercedes is truly ahead in 2026 in car development, as seems to be the case after winter testing, how a competitive Max Verstappen in a decent 2026 Red Bull car will bring new on-track tensions into the mix for this coming season.
Further, what makes Russell’s comments noteworthy is not just their sharpness, but also the context in which they were made. They were not delivered in the heat of a post-race confrontation, but in reflective documentary interviews. This suggests that these views are considered rather than emotional reactions.
However, it is also worth bearing in mind the setting. Netflix thrives on drama. Quotes are framed for narrative impact. A rivalry sells better than polite coexistence.
MORE F1 NEWS – Mercedes signs German prodigy
NEXT ARTICLE – Christian Horner reveals what message Toto Wolff sent him after his dismissal from Red Bull Racing
For years, the rivalry between Christian Horner and Toto Wolff has been one of Formula 1’s most reliable subplots. While the drivers battled it out on the track, their respective team bosses provided the drama in the paddock, sometimes subtle, often not.
So, when Horner was dismissed from Red Bull Racing shortly after last year’s British Grand Prix, many wondered whether Wolff would raise a quiet toast or send a quiet message.
As it turns out, he chose the latter.
In the latest season of Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Horner reveals exactly what his long-time rival sent him in the aftermath of his exit. In true Wolff fashion, it was equal parts sharp and sincere, and just self-aware enough to be dangerous.
When ‘porpoising’ nearly caused a diplomatic incident
To understand the tone of that message, it helps to revisit one of their more combustible flashpoints.
Three years ago, amid the chaos of Formula 1’s ground-effect return, several teams were battling severe ‘porpoising’, the high-speed bouncing that turned multimillion-pound race cars into mechanical pogo sticks. Wolff, whose driver Lewis Hamilton was visibly suffering from back pain, pushed hard at a meeting of the team principals for regulatory changes.
The problem? Sympathy was in short supply.
Horner, never one to miss an opportunity for mischief, suggested the discussion might be better held away from the ever-present Netflix cameras. Wolff did not appreciate the meta-commentary. Tempers flared. Tempers flared. Subtlety left the room.
Horner eventually snapped: ‘Then adjust your bloody car!’
Wolff countered by invoking Sergio Pérez, claiming that even the Red Bull driver had complained. Horner flatly denied it. Wolff, with theatrical precision, declared: “I have it printed out.”
It was peak Drive to Survive. Shakespeare, but with data sheets…CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE
A senior writer at TJ13, C.J. Alderson serves as Senior Editor and newsroom coordinator, with a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing. Alderson’s professional training in media studies and experience managing content teams ensures TJ13 maintains consistency of voice and credibility. During race weekends, Alderson acts as desk lead, directing contributors and smoothing breaking stories for publication.
No – I can’t agree with this! Russell has no idea what’s in the Verstappen’s playbook – or anyone else’s at Red Bull! He’s a man who has too high opinion of himself and therefore too low an opinion of others. He IS giving ‘considered’ opinions … he’s being spiteful, as he’s jealous of MV’s abilities. HE wants to be top dog – but he’s not!
How can he say that MV wanted Horner gone, when they talk every race weekend? The man shouldn’t be given column inches … he’s an embarrassment to the sport and Mercedes – and frightened Mercedes would take MV rather than GR in an instant … and who wouldn’t!!
Strong words against GR mate, he’s far more of a gent than that Dutch tosser
One only has to look back at Prost/Senna confrontations to see how the partisan actions of managerial actors influence race results. Jos Verstappen would love to be the best at something, like talentless people often do.
The problem as I see it Russell is not even close to being anywhere near the same league as Verstappen
As there’s a few comments on this post, I wanted to ask how everyone is getting on with the new look website? We cheanged it to make page loading a lot faster. Appreciate any feedback good or bad