Christian Horner’s claims about keeping an eye on George Russell for a future Red Bull drive were aboutꦗ irking Toto Wolff.

That is the view of Nico Rosb☂erg who didn’t take the Red Bull team꧑ principal at his word.

Horner was debating future driver opti▨ons when he said: “We’re not afraid to go out of the pool. George Russell is out of contract at the end of next year.

“It would be foolish not to take that into considerat🐓ion.”

Sergio Perez has speওnt most of this season under pressure as Max Verstappen’s teammate.

And at 🔯Red Bull’s sister team, RB will replace Daniel Ricciardo with Liam Lawson for the rest of the season.

Jamie Chadwick reacted to Sky Sports: “The fact he brought George’s name into the mix shows he isn’t ꦬfully confident in his four drivers, which makes sense.

“Checo needs to step iꦯt up. They are going to lose the constructors’ championship because 𓄧of their second driver.

“They will put Liam L♔awson in the [RB] car and see if he’s ready for the big seat.

“Or look inside, or 🥀outside, of their talent pool for other drivꩲers.”

But ex-Merce🅷des driver Rosberg said: “It’s also policy and strategy because h🦂e wants to unsettle Toto.

“If Toto su🔯ddenly hears Horner ♚talking about Russell, and Russell doesn’t have a contract, Toto might think ‘should I try to get an option on George?’

“It is unsettling. It is part of the game.”

Russell will become Mercedes’ senior driver next season when Lewis Hamilton leaves🦩 for Ferrari, and is reඣplaced by rookie Kimi Antonelli.

Much of Red Bull’s driver dilemmas revolve 🎃around Perez.

Although they opted against a mid-season chꩵange, Perez finished 10th in Singapore last weekend, offering McLaren a vital opportunity to edge ahead in the constructors’.

“Max was at his very best again [last] weekend. That make🐟s the gap so big,” Rosberg said.

“The Red Bull car is having a difꦯficult time and Singapore is the worst track for it.

“He really has to find progress, at some p🌜oin♈t. Or they will question him again next year.”