Title: I’d love to see Verstappen & Russell team up at Mercedes: Button
As the 2023 Formula One season is just around the corner, former world champion Jenson Button has expressed his desire to see Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen team up with Mercedes’ George Russell. In an interview, Button noted that he believes a partnership between the two talented drivers would be exciting and beneficial for both parties.
Button, who won the 2009 F1 world championship, acknowledged that Verstappen is doing incredibly well with Red Bull, but he believes that a change of scenery could bring new challenges and opportunities for the Dutch driver. “If Verstappen goes to Mercedes, it’s a different thing altogether,” Button said. “The car isn’t going to be designed around him, so it’ll be a challenge for him to adapt.”
Verstappen and Russell have both been in excellent form in recent seasons, with Verstappen claiming the 2021 and 2022 world championships with Red Bull, while Russell has been consistently impressive for Mercedes, finishing in the top five in the drivers’ standings in both 2021 and 2022.
Button believes that Verstappen’s strengths as a driver would complement Russell’s skills, and that the two could form a formidable partnership at Mercedes. “I think it would be great to see Verstappen and Russell together at Mercedes,” Button said. “They’re both top-class drivers, and I think they could learn a lot from each other.”
Verstappen has been with Red Bull since 2016, and has been instrumental in the team’s success in recent years. However, with the team’s dominance showing no signs of slowing down, it’s possible that Verstappen may be looking for a new challenge.
Russell, on the other hand, has been with Mercedes since 2021, and has been steadily improving with each passing season. He has shown his ability to hold his own against more experienced teammates, and has been touted as a potential future world champion.
A partnership between Verstappen and Russell at Mercedes would certainly be an exciting development for the sport. Both drivers have shown their ability to perform at the highest level, and the combination of their skills and experience could be a winning formula for the team.
Of course, there are a number of factors that would need to be taken into account before such a move could happen. First and foremost, Red Bull would need to be willing to let Verstappen go, which is far from certain. The team has invested heavily in the Dutch driver, and it’s unlikely that they would want to lose him without a good reason.
Additionally, Mercedes would need to decide whether they are willing to take on the challenge of integrating a new driver into their team. With Lewis Hamilton and Russell already established at the team, it’s not clear whether there would be room for Verstappen.
Despite these challenges, Button believes that a partnership between Verstappen and Russell at Mercedes would be a great move for all parties involved. “It would be a huge coup for Mercedes to get Verstappen, and I think it would be a great opportunity for him to prove himself in a new environment,” Button said.
Ultimately, only time will tell whether this hypothetical pairing will come to fruition. But one thing is certain – it would be an exciting development for the sport, and would certainly add a new layer of intrigue to the 2023 Formula One season.
