George Russell has expressed that he would 'understand' if Max Verstappen decided to leave Formula 1 this season, acknowledging the champion's frustrations with the sport's new regulations.
In a candid interview, the Mercedes driver stated that while the sport "would not want to lose" a talent like Verstappen, the reasons behind a potential departure are comprehensible. Verstappen recently hinted at reconsidering his future in F1, citing dissatisfaction with how the 2026 cars perform under the latest rule changes.
"Formula 1 is bigger than any driver, so you wouldn't want to lose Max, because I think we all enjoy racing against Max," Russell remarked. "But you'd understand if he stayed and you'd understand if he went."
The core of Verstappen's discontent lies with the new power-units, which feature a nearly equal split between internal combustion and electrical energy. This shift has introduced complex energy management requirements that alter traditional driving styles. Qualifying laps are no longer about pushing to the absolute limit due to battery recharge needs, and races are impacted by significant speed variations as cars cycle through different power modes.
Russell suggested that Verstappen's perspective might be influenced by Red Bull's current competitive struggles. "I didn't enjoy driving the 2022 car when it was porpoising up and down, killing everybody's backs," he recalled. "The car was big, it was heavy. The high-speed corners, it wasn't very pleasant to drive around. But he didn't have the same complaint, because he was winning."
He added, "Now, the complaints that he has currently are different to the complaints of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren, because we're at the front end of the grid. This is only natural, and you do understand and recognise the frustration."
With four world championships already secured and recent ventures into sports car racing—including events at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife—Verstappen's career considerations extend beyond F1. Russell's comments highlight a growing dialogue within the paddock about driver satisfaction and the sport's evolving technical landscape.