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If Max Verstappen decides to leave Red Bull, it could spell big trouble for Christian Horner – and the questions would start with who takes his place.
Red Bull have often promoted from within their own ranks. When Mark Webber retired at the end of 2013, it was Daniel Ricciardo who stepped up from Toro Rosso. And when Sebastian Vettel moved to Ferrari a year later, Horner again looked to the sister team, bringing in Daniil Kvyat. But could the team follow that path again?
READ MORE: George Russell’s camp and the Aston Martin rumours: what they want revealed
Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda is out of contract at the end of the season, and has not at all convinced since replacing Liam Lawson. Isack Hadjar is in line for a promotion to Red Bull, but even he has cast doubt on his readiness for the Milton Keynes outfit.
While Helmut Marko sees Arvid Lindblad more as a long-term option, the young driver still needs to prove himself. Red Bull may have to look outside their own system for an established winner if Verstappen moves on.
Christian Horner praises Mercedes driver George Russell ‘remarkably often’
According to Auto Motor und Sport, Horner feels he might need to sign Russell – quite a shift after the pair’s fallout last year.
Russell had criticised Verstappen’s driving in Qatar, and just recently joked about the Dutchman’s penalty situation in Canada. After Russell’s win there, Red Bull even filed a complaint about his conduct behind the safety car.
Despite these clashes, both Toto Wolff and Horner seem careful not to burn bridges. Wolff, in particular, has steered clear of criticising Verstappen, possibly keeping future options open.
Meanwhile, journalist Michael Schmidt has noticed that Horner speaks positively about Russell more often than one might expect. Given that Red Bull could need a new frontman, those comments might not be a coincidence.
Christian Horner hinted at George Russell interest long ago amid Max Verstappen rumours
Last year, Horner told reporters at the Singapore Grand Prix that Red Bull would be foolish not to consider a driver of Russell’s quality. And while Russell is expected to re-sign with Mercedes soon, the length of his new deal will be worth noting.
His last contract was just two years, a short enough span to keep options open for the future. With Red Bull watching closely, Russell spoke to Sky Sports recently: “If you are performing at your best and you stick with a team and you perform at your best, you don’t need to worry about anything else.”
It’s only two years since Russell replaced Valtteri Bottas and joined Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. He’s since won four races and scored 20 podiums.
More must-reads:
- Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
- Shedeur Sanders gets new chance after Browns QB injury
- The 'MLB mascot names' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
New report suggests Christian Wilkins release related to 'incident' with teammate
There may be more to Christian Wilkins’ recent surprise release from the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported Saturday that "some sources believe an incident involving a teammate may have factored in-part into the Raiders' fatigue and release" of Wilkins. The nature of the incident is not clear. However, many believe the Raiders had a very good reason to move on from Wilkins considering the money they had invested in him. It also suggests the Raiders saw no alternative if they went straight to a release. Wilkins was dumped by the Raiders just one year into a four-year, $110 million deal. The Raiders suggested Wilkins failed to take rehab seriously as he tries to work his way back from a foot injury. Other teams do not appear to have the same concerns about Wilkins as the Raiders did, and he should find a new landing spot fairly easily. That is one of the reasons some suspect there is more to the Raiders’ decision than they are publicly saying.
Green Bay Packers 2nd Year Cornerback Has 'Impressive' Start To Training Camp
The Green Bay Packers are in the midst of training camp, and one name that’s turning heads is second-year cornerback Kalen King. After spending his rookie season on the practice squad, King is making a strong case for a spot on the active roster. With the Packers’ cornerback room in flux, this could be the perfect opportunity for the young defensive back to shine. Kalen King’s College Resume Before joining the Packers, Kalen King was a standout at Penn State. In his sophomore season, King was a force in the secondary, allowing a completion rate of under 50% and surrendering just one touchdown across 328 coverage snaps. He also recorded three interceptions and multiple pass breakups, showcasing his ability to make plays on the ball. However, his junior year was less consistent. Without Joey Porter Jr. on the opposite side, King faced more attention from opposing quarterbacks. His completion rate jumped to 61%, and he struggled in key matchups, including a tough outing against Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. Despite these challenges, King’s potential was evident, and the Packers took a chance on him with a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Making Waves in Green Bay Packers Training Camp Fast forward to 2025, and King is making the most of his opportunities in training camp. Head coach Matt LaFleur has praised his toughness and willingness to compete, even noting that King has been “impressive” in the early days of camp. While the team has yet to practice in full pads, King’s performance has been enough to generate buzz among coaches and fans alike. At 5’11” and 190 pounds, King isn’t the biggest cornerback, but his physicality and football IQ make him a compelling option for the Packers’ secondary. After undergoing wrist surgery in the offseason, King appears to be fully healthy and ready to compete for a roster spot. The Packers’ Cornerback Room The Green Bay Packers’ cornerback situation is one of the more intriguing storylines heading into the season. The team parted ways with longtime star Jaire Alexander in June, leaving a significant void in the secondary. Currently, the top options at cornerback include Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and free-agent addition Nate Hobbs. Javon Bullard, a second-year safety, has also been seeing time as the team’s preferred nickelback. Beyond the top four, the depth chart is wide open. Players like King, Kamal Hadden, and seventh-round rookie Micah Robinson are all vying for spots. The Packers are also experimenting with Bo Melton, a converted wide receiver, as a two-way player in the secondary. With so much uncertainty, King’s strong start to camp could position him as a key contributor in 2025. Why King’s Development Matters For a team in transition, the Packers need young players like King to step up. His ability to adapt and grow could be crucial for a secondary that’s looking to establish its identity post-Alexander. King’s college pedigree and early flashes in camp suggest he has the tools to succeed, but the real test will come when the pads go on and preseason games begin. If King can continue to build on his strong start, he could carve out a role as a rotational cornerback or even push for significant playing time. For now, all eyes are on the young defensive back as he looks to prove he belongs in the NFL.
Longtime Maple Leafs Defenseman in Serious Contract Dispute With His New Team
The longtime former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Conor Timmins is in a serious contract dispute with his new team, the Buffalo Sabres. Nobody appears happy to stay with the Buffalo Sabres organization. Most of the talented players on the team were included in trade or free agency rumors, and now, Timmins doesn't appear too excited to sign with the team. Indeed, the Restricted Free Agent, who was traded by the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Sabres earlier this offseason for Connor Clifton and a second-round pick, isn't close to reaching a deal in Buffalo. With arbitration hearings set to take place over the coming days, Timmins and the Sabres are likely to meet for that reason soon. Unless a deal is reached before then, the hearing will take place on August 2nd. The Ontario native is coming off a rocky season, where he played 51 games for the Leafs and 17 more in Pittsburgh after being traded. In those 68 games, the 26-year-old defenseman tallied 15 points, including three goals. After seeing three players around the NHL reach deals before their hearing date, some fans hoped to see the Sabres and Timmins sign a contract soon, but multiple reports confirmed that there hasn't been any 'traction' between both camps. As of now, five more players are scheduled to have salary hearings. Here's the full list, per PuckPedia: Arvid Soderblom (Chicago Blackhawks) - July 28 Maksim Tsyplakov (New York Islanders) - July 29 Dylan Samberg (Winnipeg Jets) - July 30 Conor Timmins (Buffalo Sabres) - August 2 Nicholas Robertson (Toronto Maple Leafs) - August 3 Jayden Struble (Montreal Canadiens) - August 3 It'll be interesting to see what kind of contract Timmins would get in a hearing, or if a deal will be reached before the date. With the Sabres' reputation, it's not surprising to see that he appears reluctant to sign in Buffalo. Hopefully for their fans, massive changes will be done to the team to make sure they can attract top talent and convince them to stay with the team.
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