{"id":196773,"date":"2025-06-19T09:23:15","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T09:23:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/196773\/"},"modified":"2025-06-19T09:23:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T09:23:15","slug":"how-verstappen-russell-and-alonso-fit-into-the-recent-f1-silly-season-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/196773\/","title":{"rendered":"How Verstappen, Russell and Alonso fit into the recent F1 silly season stories"},"content":{"rendered":"

In theory, this year’s Formula 1 silly season should be a relatively quiet one. At the end of this campaign, only Mercedes<\/a> and Racing Bulls<\/a> have their drivers\u2019 contracts expiring. And, as always, the second Red Bull and Alpine<\/a> seats remain question marks \u2013 in the short term as far as Franco Colapinto<\/a> is concerned.<\/p>\n

All other driver contracts extend beyond this year. Ferrari<\/a>\u2019s duo is locked in through the upcoming regulation changes, Max Verstappen<\/a> has a contract that formally runs until the end of 2028, and McLaren<\/a> has secured its current line-up with long-term deals.<\/p>\n

Verstappen\u2019s future still a major talking point<\/p>\n

Still, in the world of F1 things are rarely as straightforward as they appear on paper. Contracts aren\u2019t definitive, and behind the scenes, everyone talks to everyone \u2013 especially with a regulation change adding uncertainty.<\/p>\n

As was the case last year, Verstappen\u2019s future remains one of the hotly debated topics in the paddock. Toto Wolff admitted last year that conversations with Verstappen had taken place, but he told Dutch media in Zandvoort that consensus had been reached over the summer break that a switch for 2025 was not feasible.<\/p>\n

One year on, Verstappen has repeatedly stated it is his \u2018intention\u2019 to stay at Red Bull. His contract runs through 2028 but includes clauses. As Helmut Marko has confirmed, one of those clauses is tied to Verstappen\u2019s standing in the drivers\u2019 championship at specific moments in the season, the summer being one of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrivers have performance clauses in their contracts, and there are points in the year that tend to be around the summertime [when] things materialise,\u201d Christian Horner replied in Montreal.<\/p>\n

More importantly, contracts and clauses are not the be-all and end-all. Horner has previously admitted that he wouldn\u2019t keep someone \u201cbased on just a piece of paper\u201d if they\u2019d rather be elsewhere. He reiterated this in Canada: \u201cFor us, it’s about, how can we improve? How can we be better rather than referring to a piece of paper? I always think in life, if you’ve got to refer to a contract, you’ve got a problem. It’s about a relationship with a driver and about their trust in each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Russell’s interesting media comments in Montreal
\n \"George <\/p>\n

Foto door: James Sutton \/ Motorsport Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Russell\u2019s comments during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend are also notable. Asked for an update on his Mercedes contract negotiations, he replied: \u201cNo real conversations, to be honest, because we’ve got bigger fish to fry at the moment, which is making our car go faster. I know I’m going to be in Formula 1 next year. My intention and goal are to stay with Mercedes, and I think that’s very much the intention of Toto as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

More interestingly, he added: \u201cIt’s understandable, you know, the likes of Max have always been on the radar because why wouldn’t he be on the radar? He’s one of the GOATs and I get that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fact that Russell mentioned Verstappen without being asked about the reigning world champion is noteworthy. \u201cBut then it’s down to you to prove your worth. And I feel I’ve done that time and time again over the course of seven years in F1 and my whole career. So I’ve got no concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n

He backed up those words with a Canadian GP win just a few days later: \u201cI feel good right now. There\u2019s a lot of noise about my future and about what happened in Spain. A year ago, I might have reacted differently, but now I don\u2019t care. I\u2019m focused on my job, I believe in myself, and I feel ready to fight for the championship.\u201d<\/p>\n

This all suggests that these weeks are primarily about keeping options open. That\u2019s true for Verstappen, but equally checks out for Mercedes. Wolff said last year in Zandvoort he felt that Verstappen\u2019s and Mercedes\u2019 \u201cpaths will cross one day\u201d. But, at the same time, if Mercedes wants to hold on to Andrea Kimi Antonelli<\/a>, Russell would be a cheaper option as its team leader, a role that he is already growing into this season.<\/p>\n

The main question Mercedes has to answer is: what does the team need to win in 2026, especially if the engine is as good as it\u2019s believed to be? F1’s silly season is always a game of chess, and this year is no different, with most players keeping their options open for now. Mercedes seems to be doing that (Wolff handled the Barcelona clash very cleverly), Verstappen is doing that, and by extension, so is Russell.<\/p>\n

Aston Martin logically considering Russell
\n \"Fernando <\/p>\n

Foto door: Zak Mauger \/ Motorsport Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

With that in mind, Autosport revealing that Aston Martin is considering Russell<\/a> for the new cycle of regulations fits perfectly into this. It\u2019s a logical consequence of the situation.<\/p>\n

With Verstappen on the radar, Russell needs to keep his options open as well, just in case. The Brit has made clear that he intends to stay with Mercedes and expects to, but his comment \u201cI know I\u2019ll be in F1 next year\u201d implies that he has back-up plans if things take an unexpected turn. That\u2019s no surprise, considering Russell has been performing very consistently in 2025. The chance of him being left out of the picture is virtually zero, but creating options for yourself is always a wise thing to do in the F1 paddock.<\/p>\n

Still, it’s interesting that Aston Martin is brought into the conversation. Fernando Alonso<\/a> has a contract, and Lawrence Stroll\u2019s investments are largely aimed at achieving F1 success with his son Lance, who therefore has a seat for as long as he wants it. During the Canadian Grand Prix, wild rumours circulated about Alonso having been spotted multiple times in the hospitality of Alpine \u2013 the Enstone-based team he\u2019s raced for at three different stages of his career. It’s worth noting that Briatore is not only Alpine\u2019s new advisor but also still Alonso\u2019s manager.<\/p>\n

Aston Martin team boss Andy Cowell wasn\u2019t fazed by the media reports over the weekend: \u201cI\u2019m happy for Fernando to wander into any garage, he knows lots of people up and down the pitlane.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m also happy with the fact that he\u2019s contracted to us next year and hopefully will stay with us long-term as an ambassador. It\u2019s great working with Fernando.\u201d According to Aston Martin, the visits to Alpine were just to have lunch with some familiar faces. But even if they were a bit more serious than that, it still fits the broader picture: everyone talking to everyone at this stage of the year.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to imagine Alonso passing up the chance to drive an Adrian Newey-designed car and benefit from Aston Martin\u2019s state-of-the-art facilities and its factory deal with Honda. Fair enough, the second Alpine seat likely is the only vacant one with the highly anticipated Mercedes engine for 2026, but with Aston Martin trying to everything together to succeed under the new regulations, it\u2019s hard to see Alonso anywhere else.<\/p>\n

\"Max <\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing<\/p>\n

Photo by: Andy Hone \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n

Therefore, much of the recent reporting seems a tad premature. It\u2019s mostly a matter of keeping various options on the table, which is precisely what the early part of silly season is about. Just like last year, much hinges on what Verstappen truly wants \u2013 despite his \u201cintention\u201d to stay with Red Bull. Whether this silly season catches fire or remains relatively quiet largely depends on the Dutchman. He holds the key to whether a domino effect begins.<\/p>\n

As a final note, McLaren was clever to renegotiate Oscar Piastri<\/a>\u2019s contract quite early, especially after Horner responded with \u201cOscar\u201d when asked which McLaren driver he\u2019d like to sign the most. Whether or not the F1 driver market explodes later on, McLaren\u2019s message is already clear: please don\u2019t bother us\u2026<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/p>\n

In this article<\/p>\n

Ronald Vording\n<\/p>\n

Formula 1\n<\/p>\n

Fernando Alonso\n<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen\n<\/p>\n

George Russell\n<\/p>\n

Aston Martin Racing\n<\/p>\n

Mercedes\n<\/p>\n

Alpine\n<\/p>\n

Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics<\/p>\n

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