Martin Brundle: George Russell 'Bruised' By Max Verstappen Affair

To Max, or not to Max

There was talk of a performance-related release clause in Verstappen's contract with Red Bull struggling early in the campaign, though this never came to fruition.

Talks were said to have happened between the Dutchman and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, however, with Russell the driver most likely to have missed out on a place with the team in the eventuality of a swap.

Now that the picture has settled and Verstappen has committed to Red Bull for at least next year, Mercedes looks likely to continue with its current driver line-up, even though contracts are yet to be finalized.

With Antonelli currently struggling for form and failing to arrest those issues at the Italian Grand Prix last weekend, it is he that now has questions regarding his future beginning to swirl.

But asked during Sky Sports F1's broadcast of the race at Monza whether he would keep Antonelli, Brundle replied: "I'd take him."

Pointing to the potential damage done to morale by the speculation regarding a move for Verstappen before the summer, Brundle added: "I would have signed George a long time ago because George is not happy is he?

"It is very easy to see that George feels quite bruised about all the Max talk and what have you through the summer. When you look at the calm of McLaren other teams, I just think theyve injected too many of their own problems into the driver line-up. I'd take him [Antonelli]."

Russell sits fourth in the standings with one victory to his name and has helped Mercedes to third in the constructors' table, just 20 points adrift of Ferrari. Antonelli has contributed 66 of the 260 points scored by the German manufacturer, but sits behind Williams' Alex Albon in the drivers' standings.