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

That is the view of Nico Rosber✅g who didn’t take the Red Bull team principal at his word.

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

“It would b𓆏e foolish not to take that i🧸nto consideration.”

Sergio 🍰Perez has spent 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 res⛄t of the season.

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

“Ch𝐆eco needs to step it up. They are g🍬oing to lose the constructors’ championship because of their second driver.

🦄“They will put Liam Lawson in the [RB] car and seeꦯ if he’s ready for the big seat.

“Oꦏr look inside, or outsid🐠e, of their talent pool for other drivers.”

But ex-Mercedes driver Rosberg said: “It’s als🦩o policy and strategy because he wanꦺts to unsettle Toto.

“If Toto suddenly🐠 hears Horner talking about Russell, and ꧒Russell 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 F🅘errari, and is replaced by rookie Kim🦩i Antonelli.

Much of Red Bull’s driver dilemma🐼s revolve ar♑ound Perez.

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

“Max was aꦬt his very best again [last] weekend. That makes the gap 𒐪so big,” Rosberg said.

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

“He really has to find progress, at some point. Or they will question him again𝔍 next year.”