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The Race F1 Podcast
Why Russell's F1 future is uncertain - despite his strong start to 2025
Why is George Russell’s Formula 1 future uncertain at a point where he’s performing better than ever for Mercedes? That’s a question we tackle in the latest episode of The Race F1 Podcast.
Glenn Freeman and Ben Anderson join Edd Straw to discuss Russell’s performances and the factors that mean a new deal with Mercedes isn’t yet a foregone conclusion.
We look at the situation with Max Verstappen’s potential availability and the chances of Russell being displaced, and why Mercedes would consider making such a change.
And we also ask what Russell’s fallback plans might be and if there’s anything he can do to persuade Mercedes to put pen to paper.
We also look ahead to the Miami Grand Prix and McLaren’s chances of a fifth victory in six races, as well as answering listener questions related to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
In the final part of the podcast, we tackle questions from The Race Members’ Club on multiple topics, including the problems of the regulations, Isack Hadjar and Carlos Sainz.
If you'd like to ask a question on the show, join The Race Members' Club on Patreon today - we even have an F1-only tier! Head to Patreon.com/therace
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Tech Show: F1 control systems explained + How F1 is approaching solving its power unit problems
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Adrian Newey and the fine line between triumph and disaster - The Undercut with Damon Hill and Mark Hughes
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Is Verstappen really going to walk away from F1?
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Bring Back V10s: Jaguar's nightmare debut season
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