05/07/2025

SPORTS SATURDAY | JULY 5, 2025

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Max changes tune on Mercedes move MAX VERSTAPPEN notably refused to commit his future to Red Bull ahead of the British Grand Prix, marking a change of tune for the four-time world champion. The Dutchman has been heavily linked with a switch to rivals Mercedes for the 2026 season, with the speculation stepping up ahead of tomorrow’s outing at Silverstone. Verstappen is contracted with Red Bull until the end of the 2028 campaign. However, it has been widely reported that the reigning world champion has levers in his contract that would allow him to depart the Milton Keynes squad ahead of that deadline, provided certain performance-based conditions are met. With Red Bull’s drop in performance has come renewed interest from rivals Mercedes, who are 47 points clear of Christian Horner’s squad in the Constructors’ Championship standings. A potential move would see either Kimi Antonelli or George Russell shunted onto the sidelines. Previously, when quizzed about his Red Bull future, Verstappen, who is known for his straight-talking approach to the media, has been willing to nail his colours to the mast. Ahead of last year’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, for example, he said: “It’s like I say… I’m good, I’m relaxed, I’m happy, and my contract is until 2028.” At Silverstone yesterday, the Dutchman was much less clear-cut in his answers. “I do not talk about my contract,” he said. “No decision has been made at the moment. “For me, it is not about 2026 or anything. I just concentrate on what is coming and the cooperation with the team. “Of course, many people come with assumptions. That certainly does not come from me. As I said last week, that’s all I can say about it. “I don’t think anyone can say with 100% certainty that they will feel completely comfortable next year. There are so many unknowns for next year anyway. The only thing I can do is drive as fast as I can with what I have.” For now, Verstappen is playing the waiting game. Red Bull are introducing a new floor to the RB21 at Silverstone this weekend, and it remains the Dutchman’s preference to push ahead with the team that brought him into F1 with Toro Rosso, and then delivered him four World Championships. “I always said to the team it would be ideal, and I think they think the same way, to finish off my career in Formula One with one team,” he explained. “I think that would be something amazing, and that’s what we are still trying to achieve.” – Express Newspapers

Norris strives to knock Lewis off British No. 1 perch LANDO NORRIS said he wants to overtake Lewis Hamilton as the British No. 1 as he admitted winning at Silverstone would be the crowning moment of his career. “From a British perspective, I have the best chance of winning the race and of course I am the one that is most likely to be fighting for the championship this season,” said Norris.

holding off Piastri to claim his third win of the season. After winning the season opener in Melbourne, Norris claimed his second win of the year in Monaco. But when asked if winning his home race for the first time would be the crowning moment of his career, Norris replied: “Yes. “It is tough to put something above Monaco but if I could swap all my race wins for one, it would be for a win here, so that is the plan. “Winning at Monaco and Silverstone is different. Monaco has the history, and it means so much to win there, but Silverstone is my home race and the one that puts the bigger smile on my face. And since a kid watching Formula One, it is the one I have wanted to win the most.” – The Independent

“Am I the British No. 1? I don’t know. I don’t know how much you have to take into account history. “If you do, then Lewis is quite convincingly at the top – he has a lot more wins, poles and championships than anyone else put together. “Being the British No. 1 would be nice, that’s my goal, the same as it is with any sportsman, whether it is in tennis or golf, you want to be No. 1, but I would say I haven’t proven myself to be there yet. But it is something I am working on.” Norris bounced back from the horror of crashing into Piastri in Canada by securing a dominant pole position in Spielberg and then

Norris heads into his home race fresh from an impressive victory over Oscar Piastri which puts him 15 points behind his McLaren teammate ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix. The 25-year-old will have his own grandstand at Silverstone, hosting 10,000 of his fans, while he is also the leading Briton in the championship, two places ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell. Hamilton is sixth in the standings, 110 points behind Norris and without a podium in his debut Ferrari campaign. However, the seven-time world champion has won a record nine times at Silverstone.

Mercedes' George Russell (right) celebrates after qualifying in pole position with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff during the Canadian Grand Prix. – REUTERSPIC

‘Toto has never let me down’

Russell adamant he will not be leaving Silver Arrows

Ű BY KIERAN JACKSON

G EORGE RUSSELL believes he won’t be leaving Mercedes at the end of the season despite speculation linking Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with the team. Russell, who is in the middle of his fourth season with Mercedes, does not currently have a contract beyond 2025 despite a strong first half of the season. Four-time F1 world champion Verstappen has long been courted by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and reports in Italian media this week state that the Dutchman is open to the prospect of joining the Silver Arrows next year. Russell revealed last week that Mercedes are in discussions with Verstappen but insists he is unconcerned. “There’s a lot of conversations behind the scenes that are not public and I know where their loyalty lies,” Russell said, ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix. “It doesn’t need to be public or broadcast to

weeks”, before F1’s summer break starts at the beginning of August. He signed off the press conference by stating: “The likelihood I’m not at Mercedes next year is exceptionally low.” Verstappen has a contract at Red Bull until the end of 2028, but various reports this week have stated that he can activate a release clause if he is lower than fourth in the drivers’ standings by the summer break. The Dutchman refused to comment on this week’s reports in his print media briefing, saying: “I know nothing about that, I have nothing to add.” If Verstappen does swap Milton Keynes for Brackley and Wolff leaves Russell in the dark, the four-time Grand Prix winner will have a tough decision to make about his future. Only Red Bull, Alpine and Cadillac stand as viable alternatives to Mercedes, and competition for seats is at an all-time high. – The Independent /Express Newspapers Austria. During the race, Hamilton aired his frustration with Ferrari after they pulled him in for a tyre change against his wishes. Hamilton continued: “The team’s view is that they wanted to secure third and fourth which is totally fine, but I am not here to start fourth and finish fourth. “I am racing for every little bit we can gain. They had us on the same strategy. I never want to do the same as my teammate, ever. “I said I don’t want to get to a point where I am ignoring you. We are working on our conversation. We are still getting to know each other and how we operate so that was all understood.” – The Independent

everybody, we’ve spoken a bit more in the last week. “Every team has two seats available, it’s normal that every team is considering what the future holds. I don’t take that personally. I made it clear from the beginning that I’m happy to be teammates with anybody. “Toto has never let me down, he’s given me his word, but he’s also going to do what’s right for his team. For me, it’s nothing to worry about. I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere. “We’ve spoken a bit more over the last week because there’s numerous articles and whatnot out there, but it doesn’t really change anything on my side because, as I said, I’m performing better than ever, it’s as simple as that really. Performance speaks for everything.” Asked directly if he was speaking to other teams, Russell replied: “No.” The 27-year-old, teammates with 18-year old rookie Kimi Antonelli this year, added that he hopes for a resolution in the “next few as McLaren. If it stays dry they will walk the race. “I don’t look at those (podium) statistics so it is not something that affects me or I think about. But we are here at Silverstone and what better place to change that run so that is what we are working towards. “Driving a Ferrari at Silverstone for the first time will be special and unique in its own way. We have the best fans here, and for a British driver they really do make a difference. “I have shown that to you time and time again so I hope this weekend they really make the difference for us.” Hamilton finished fourth, a place behind teammate Charles Leclerc at the previous round in

Hamilton ‘hoping, praying’ for podium return

Ű BY PHILIP DUNCAN

Ferrari colours – a streak of 11 races – the deepest into the season he has ever gone without a top-three finish. Hamilton ended his two and-a-half-year losing streak with a famous victory at Silverstone last season, and speaking ahead of tomorrow’s race, Hamilton said: “I am hoping and praying. “There is always magic here at Silverstone. It is a very, very special race and I am hoping all sorts of things can help us because we are not as quick

LEWIS HAMILTON (pic) said he is “hoping and praying” to end the worst podiumless streak of his Formula One career at tomorrow’s British Grand Prix. Hamilton has a remarkable record at his home race, winning a record nine times at Silverstone. He has also finished in the top three in all of his last 11 appearances here. However, the seven-time world champion has not landed a podium in