George Russell says there’s an “exceptionally low” chance he’ll leave Mercedes next year even after he claimed the team was holding talks with Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen.

Rumors of a shocking move to Mercedes have followed Verstappen, and the entire F1 grid, from paddock to paddock in recent weeks. Those rumors picked up steam in the past 48 hours when a report from Sky Sports Italy indicated that Verstappen had agreed to move to Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton is following Mercedes' pursuit of Max Verstappen with interest and says he would fully recommend the move to his former rival.