Four-time Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel has chosen George Russell and Mercedes as his frontrunners for the 2026 World Drivers’ Championship, setting aside his former team Red Bull and their current dominant driver Max Verstappen. His prediction comes amid major regulatory changes expected to shake up the Formula 1 grid starting next season.
Vettel’s Prediction for 2026 F1 Championship
The FIA has implemented a significant overhaul of the technical regulations for the 2026 season, designed to level the competitive field across teams. Mercedes, which struggled in the current ground-effect era, is widely regarded as a strong contender due to its historical success during previous power unit transitions. The Brackley-based team previously dominated the turbo-hybrid era, securing six titles in seven seasons with Lewis Hamilton.
After the initial pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain, Mercedes and George Russell have emerged as early favorites. Red Bull Racing, despite adopting the new RBPT-Ford power unit, showed competitive but less dominant performance, leaving room for speculation heading into the new era.
Vettel Explains His Confidence in Russell and Mercedes
In a recent interview with Sport Und Talk for ServusTV, Sebastian Vettel shared his reasons for backing George Russell and the Mercedes team for the upcoming championship. He noted the team’s steady progress and reliability, underlying the fact that Mercedes-powered McLaren cars have also performed well recently.
“George Russell and Mercedes. On the one hand, it’s because you can see it now, I think betting on Mercedes isn’t too bad. But quite deliberately, they also drive a McLaren with a Mercedes engine. They haven’t done a bad job in recent years.” – Sebastian Vettel, Former F1 Champion
“I would bet on George because I trust him that he’s very clever because I know he works very hard on himself and I think he’s so clever that he also understands what he can contribute specifically as a driver to make a difference,” added Sebastian Vettel
Vettel’s choice reflects both his faith in Russell’s intelligence and dedication as a driver and his assessment of Mercedes’ technical capabilities. This prediction stands out, particularly since Max Verstappen and Vettel share a well-known personal rapport, and Verstappen holds a strong record with Red Bull Racing.
Relationship Between Vettel and Verstappen
Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel are the only two drivers to have won world championships for Red Bull Racing and maintain a positive off-track relationship. Following Verstappen’s achievement of breaking Vettel’s record for the most consecutive wins in 2023, the German driver reached out to congratulate the Dutchman.
Vettel’s Thoughts on Joining Red Bull’s Leadership
After the departures of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko from Red Bull Racing, there was speculation in late 2025 about Vettel potentially stepping into an advisory role with the team. When asked about these rumors, Vettel expressed cautious openness but emphasized contentment with his current situation.
“I don’t know, I read as well there was a lot of talk about it and so on, and I did speak with Helmut a little bit, but it never got anywhere, never gained any traction. I think for me, I’m fairly happy where I am in life right now. I love Formula 1. In the beginning I thought, I’m not sure whether I want to keep watching because I need to get a distance and so on.” – Sebastian Vettel, Former F1 Champion
“I don’t know, if the right opportunity, position, perspective, whatever, turns up or could turn up, maybe there’s a role that I could be happy to step up to. Time will tell,” added Sebastian Vettel
Helmut Marko announced his departure from Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2025 season amid reports that the team’s parent company sought tighter control over the racing operations. Vettel’s remarks indicate that while he remains engaged with the sport, he is wary about immediately re-entering a team management role.
Implications for the 2026 Season and Beyond
Vettel’s confidence in George Russell and Mercedes highlights how the upcoming changes in regulations could reshape Formula 1’s competitive dynamics. Mercedes’ historic success during previous transitions suggests the team is well-positioned to capitalize on the new era. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s adaptation to new power unit rules will be crucial in determining whether Verstappen can extend his dominance.
This outlook adds a layer of intrigue and cautious optimism to the 2026 season, as fans and teams await how technical innovation and strategic driver development will influence the race for both the World Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships.
“i would bet on George because I trust him that he's very clever because I know he works very hard on himself and I think he's so clever that he also understands what he can contribute specifically as a driver to make a difference”
I LOVE YOU SEB 😭pic.twitter.com/4eGRco9cHF— Nana | ندى ≽^• ˕ • ྀི≼ (@Nadakitt) February 17, 2026
