Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull could be disastrous for Christian Horner. He would face a myriad questions, not least about his replacement.

Red Bull are a team who have almost always promoted from within. When Mark Webber retired at the end of 2013, compatriot Daniel Ricciardo stepped up from Toro Rosso.

And when Sebastian Vettel joined Ferrari a year later, Horner looked to the sister team again for Daniil Kvyat. But could they repeat that here?

Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda is out of contract at the end of the season, and hasn’t 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 views Arvid Lindblad as a long-term ‘successor’ to Verstappen, the teenager must prove himself at Racing Bulls first. In short, Red Bull may need to recruit a ready-made race-winner from elsewhere if the superstar face of their team leaves.

Christian Horner praises Mercedes driver George Russell ‘remarkably often’

According to a report from Auto Motor und Sport, Horner believes he might ‘need’ to sign George Russell. This would be somewhat surprising given his recent tension with Verstappen.

Russell furiously called out Verstappen’s aggression at the end of last year amid a dispute over a grid penalty in Qatar. In Canada last weekend, the Mercedes driver joked about exploiting his rival’s penalty points situation as he teeters on the brink of a race ban.

After Russell won the race, Red Bull lodged a controversial protest, alleging unsportsmanlike behaviour behind the safety car. This could reignite the tension between the two teams, but Toto Wolff and Horner have a reason to preserve the relationship.

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It’s ‘striking’ that Wolff ‘avoids any criticism’ of Verstappen, even after the Dutchman’s widely-condemned collision with Russell in Spain. He wants to ‘build a bridge’ for the four-time champion to eventually join Mercedes.

Likewise, journalist Michael Schmidt notes that Horner praises Russell ‘remarkably often’. He knows he can’t ‘mess things up’ given that he may launch a move for the former Williams driver one day.

Christian Horner hinted at George Russell interest long ago amid Max Verstappen rumours

Speaking at the Singapore GP last autumn, Horner confirmed that Red Bull were interested in Russell. He said it would be ‘foolish’ not to consider a driver of that calibre.

While technically on the market as he approaches the end of his Mercedes contract, Russell is expected to sign a new deal in the near future.

However, his last contract only ran for two years, and a repeat here would keep the door slightly ajar for Red Bull. Horner has held ‘informal chats’ with Russell as both parties keep each other abreast.

Russell’s anticipated extension will bring Verstappen a step closer to staying at Red Bull. But this story could continue into next year.

Signed by Mercedes in 2022, Russell has bagged four wins, six poles and 20 podiums in his first 138 races.