Max Verstappen contract options to force George Russell to sweat over new Mercedes deal

Don't expect to see follow through on the positive noises he has been making regarding future any time soon. The Brit has enjoyed an impressive start to the new season and is proving that he is capable of leading the Silver Arrows in absence.

But as it stands his contract is up at the end of this season and there is one big, Dutch factor that looks set to play a key role in whether he will get the extension he wants. Wolff is in a tricky position - two excellent drivers on the books in Russell and young hotshot , but there is the temptation of a potentially available .

The four-time champion has a contract until 2028 but it's no secret that there are performance clauses included in that deal. And the word in the paddock is that some of them could kick in as early as this summer, potentially allowing him to look elsewhere if he is low enough in the championship standings.

That explains why, despite his positive comments about Russell's form and future with , team principal Wolff isn't in a rush to get the Brit to put pen to paper. And who can blame him? Russell is very talented and a potential champion but Verstappen is the same age and already a bona fide all-time F1 great.

If there is even just a small chance the Dutchman will be available, Wolff is doing the right thing by keeping his options open. With new engine rules coming into force next year, and given Mercedes' track record when it comes to making fearsome power units, they will surely be an attractive option for Verstappen if he does become frustrated at Red Bull.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

They will have to fight hard with owner Lawrence Stroll, who has not only financial firepower on his side but also the tempting prospect of a reunion with celebrated designer . To stop both of them, Red Bull will have to deliver a car in the coming months that can start winning regularly again.

FIA continues to be its own worst enemy

The last week has proven that common sense continues to elude the top brass at . Even before , there was for missing the start of the anthem by… five WHOLE seconds.

Why was he late? A run to the toilet and a medical exam by a doctor who verified that he had sought assistance for stomach discomfort. But instead of using their brains and realising that drivers are human, the FIA stewards slapped him with a whopping £17,000 fine. As Russell put it, his toilet trip turned out to be "a pretty expensive poo".

From the archive

The was the setting for one of the most memorable battles between Hamilton and , the 2014 'Duel in the Desert', which set the tone for the three seasons of intense rivalry between the two Mercedes title-chasers.

Fast fact

Most F1 tracks have multiple named corners but there is just one at the Bahrain International Circuit - turn one is simply called '' in honour of the stricken racing legend.

Inside track

Poor got a rare run-out for Aston Martin in practice yesterday but continues to be stuck in the same purgatory he entered after winning the 2022 title. A future Aston race seat looks highly unlikely, though there were some talks with Cadillac at Suzuka last week.