George Russell desperate to fight against Max Verstappen again in 2026

Russell and Verstappen have had a tough rivalry in recent seasons, including incidents at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix and the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix.

The Dutchman then went on to fight against both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the championship, ultimately losing out to Norris by just two points. Coming into 2026, many believe Mercedes is the team to beat, especially after the Barcelona shakedown, completing considerable miles on track.

With the prospect of a potential fight between Russell and Verstappen on the table, the Brit was asked about their rivalry and what to expect, if the pair are both challenging one another for the title in 2026.

Russell stated: "I'd love for it to turn out that way. I do want to go head-to-head with Max and obviously, Lando had a great season last year. I think probably the fans and people are expecting it to potentially be Mercedes versus McLaren because there was a lot of anticipation that Mercedes would clearly have the best power unit, but it seems like the other power unit manufacturers have done a good job."

He continued: "We know that Red Bull have always had an amazing car, even through the dominance of Mercedes. It was their engine that was letting them down, not their car and we obviously know how good Max is. I think he is very much going to be in the fight this year. That is great, you obviously wish that you'd have a slightly easier time of it, but it should never be easy."

Should Mercedes start the year off strong, Russell may find himself in a potential championship battle, and Mercedes may also be able to surpass Ferrari for most victories as an engine supplier and manufacturer.