Is George Russell's Mercedes seat under threat? Max Verstappen emerges as surprising factor in latest reports

As per the latest Formula 1 reports, British driving sensation George Russell's seat at Mercedes might be in jeopardy soon, and the reason behind this shocker is none other than the reigning world champion, Max Verstappen. Verstappen, who has been an asset to Red Bull for years, is having a hard time in the team this season, as the report suggests the Dutchman is not very happy with his RB21.

This was particularly witnessed at the recently concluded Bahrain Grand Prix, where Verstappen first failed to claim any of the top three spots during the qualifying, finishing seventh, and then on Sunday he barely managed to claim sixth spot during the main race.

In contrast, Russell has managed to impress the F1 fans and pundits alike with his impressive drives so far this season. He first took P3 at the season opener in Melbourne, followed by another P3 at the Chinese GP, then a fifth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, and a P2 this past Sunday at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

But here comes the big question: despite all these commendable races that put Mercedes in a strong position in the Constructor's Championship, why is George Russell's seat under threat, and what role has Max Verstappen to play in it?

George Russell might be leaving Mercedes soon and Max Verstappen is the reason

This shocker has been dropped by famed Formula 1 analyst Martin Brundle, who recently stated that Verstappen's struggles with Red Bull might influence him to look for other options, and Toto Wolff, who has already once denied signing the Dutch sensation, might consider his services for Mercedes this time.

So how did it all start? It was when Max Verstappen participated in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, and he struggled badly with his car and said that he had a hard time extracting pace from the car, and then the same misery continued during the race as well, where he finished sixth and refused any conversation with the team because that's how much he was upset with his car.

It was later revealed that the car had balance and braking issues, which led to Max Verstappen slipping to third from second in the World Driver's Championship.

And if this continues, then Verstappen will look for other teams, and Mercedes is already eyeing that opportunity, as per Brundle, and as a result, George Russell might have to leave in similar circumstances like Carlos Sainz, who had to vacate his Ferrari seat for Lewis Hamilton.