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.

Max Verstappen, who is currently signed with Red Bull, is in talks with Mercedes over changing sides, according to The Guardian. The negotiations have reportedly intensified leading up to this weekend's British Grand Prix.

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.