Russell added to BBC Sport: “Toto has made it clear to me that how I am performing is nearly as good as anyone.
“There is just one driver that you could debate when it comes to efficiency. These are his phrases and never my phrases, and that’s the reason I’ve no concern about my future.
“However there are two seats to each staff and I suppose he must assume who’re these two drivers.”
Russell’s feedback indicate that his personal contract talks with staff principal Toto Wolff are being delayed by Mercedes’ conversations with the four-time champion.
Wolff mentioned on the Austrian Grand Prix on Friday: “George has all the time carried out to the expectations we set. We have not given him a automotive to win the world championship within the final three years and that is on us.
“The instances the automotive is sweet, he has been profitable races. You understand he’s going to extract what’s within the automotive.
“In a standard enterprise the contract discussions will not be being held as city halls, every part is regular, every part goes to plan.”
In direct response to Russell’s feedback on Verstappen, Wolff mentioned: “You’re going into territory I do not need to talk about on the market. Individuals talk about and discover, and in our organisation individuals are clear. However it does not change a millimetre of my opinion of George.”
Verstappen refused to immediately remark when he was requested on Thursday whether or not he could be staying with Crimson Bull subsequent yr.
“I do not assume we have to discuss that,” he mentioned. “It is probably not on my thoughts. Simply driving properly, making an attempt to push the efficiency, after which we concentrate on subsequent yr.”
