Formula One Constructors’ Championship leaders McLaren have reportedly identified Mercedes driver George Russell as a backup for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Russell, who has become the lead driver at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton’s switch to Ferrari, is out of contract at the end of the 2025 season.
McLaren Have Been the Most Dominant Team in the F1 2025 Season
McLaren, who won the Constructors’ Championship in the final race last season, are running away with the title this term. After 10 Grands Prix, they sit at the top with a whopping 374 points. They are 175 points clear of Mercedes (199) in second place.
The Papaya have the fastest car on the grid this year, and they have been in the hunt in almost every race this season. Out of ten races this season, McLaren have won seven, Red Bull two, and Mercedes one. Five of those races have gone to Oscar Piastri, who has emerged as the Drivers’ Championship leader with 198 points. The other two have gone to Lando Norris, who is second in the rankings with 176 points.
McLaren Identify George Russell As Backup After Canada GP Clash Between Lando Norris & Oscar Piastri
With two almost-equal drivers possessing race-winning cars, a championship battle is inevitable. And more often than not, such clashes turn into iconic F1 rivalries. We got a sniff of it at the Canadian Grand Prix earlier in June, as the McLaren boys Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri came together.
In the closing stages of the Canadian GP, Norris pushed hard to take the fourth spot away from Piastri. The Aussie defended his line and closed the window on Norris down the main straight. The Brit, determined to overtake, still went for the lunge and crashed into his teammate. Surprisingly, Piastri did not take any significant damage and finished fourth. Norris, meanwhile, had to retire in the aftermath of the Lap 67 tussle.
McLaren are happy with the drivers at their disposal, but they are aware of how uncertain this sport is. So, if the championship fight drives a wedge between the two drivers and one of them decides to move on, McLaren do not want to be caught off-guard.
Piastri and Norris come together in Canada! 😱
Here's the collision between the two McLarens 💥#F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/sKo3GRQ63Q
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 15, 2025
According to The Race, McLaren have identified George Russell as a potential back-up to Piastri and Norris. The Mercedes driver will become a free agent at the end of the season, making him an excellent option.
The four-time Grand Prix winner has shown he can take on any driver on the grid, recently winning the Canadian GP in style. With a race-winning car under him, Russell could potentially emerge as a strong contender for the title.
Red Bull have also shown an interest in Russell, with Christian Horner holding informal talks with the Brit. They could go after him if Max Verstappen decide to move on this summer. Aston Martin have emerged as a strong contender for Verstappen, but the Dutchman is unlikely to join them in 2026.
As for Russell, his priority is to continue with Mercedes. So, if the right offer comes along, he would opt to extend his time with the Silver Arrows.
