Mercedes Chief All But Confirms 2026 F1 Driver Lineup Amid Max Verstappen Rumors

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has named George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the team’s priority for the 2026 Formula One season. The revelation comes after Max Verstappen was strongly linked to Mercedes.

Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s current contracts expire at the end of 2025, and both drivers are without a confirmed seat for the next season. Russell opened up about Mercedes’ ongoing talks with Verstappen last month, when asked about his contract extension.

The rumor mill was on overdrive with reports of Verstappen’s potential move to Mercedes, given the car challenges being faced by Red Bull. The ousting of team principal Christian Horner added to the speculation about the Dutch driver’s future with Red Bull, despite his contract lasting until the end of 2028.

While Wolff acknowledged after Russell’s admission that there were fewer chances of Verstappen signing with Mercedes for the 2026 season, he has now confirmed that Russell and Kimi Antonelli are the outfit’s priority. Speaking to ORF, as quoted by Planet F1, he said:

“Discussions have been taking place over the last weeks and months, so they are all up to date.

“The direction of travel is that we want to continue with George and Kimi. That is the first priority.

“But you can’t look past someone like Max and the plans he has for the future. We did that, but I don’t think there will be any big surprises.”

The Mercedes team boss also addressed a report that tracked Verstappen’s private jet to Sardinia, the same location where Wolff was vacationing. While rumors suggested that the two met off the coast in their yachts, Wolff has dismissed the report. He said:

“What’s new is that people are doing photo collages with airplanes. We’ve never had that before.

“But if you spend your holidays close to each other, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to work together in Formula 1.

“We have always gotten along well and by chance we like to spend our holidays at the same places.”

What is positive for Mercedes is that Russell stood his ground despite Wolff’s discussions with Verstappen, confirming his loyalty to his team. Russell said after the Canadian GP last month:

“I’m not talking with anybody else and any teams who have shown interest.

“I have been quite open to say my intentions are to stay with Mercedes. That’s always been clear. And I am loyal to Mercedes. They gave me this chance to get into Formula 1.

“There haven’t been any hard feelings with any of the talks that have been going around, especially around Max. Because, like I said on numerous times, why wouldn’t teams be interested in Max?

“If every driver had no contracts for next year, Max would be number one for every single team. And that’s understandable. But ultimately, there are two seats for every race team.

“I knew if I continue to perform as I’m doing, my position would not be under threat whatsoever. So, I feel in a good place.

“We’re in no rush to do contract negotiations. We want to win together. Especially Kimi and I being team-mates now – we’re getting a result like today, both junior drivers from Mercedes, we’re both doing the job in terms of performance. Why would you want to change something that’s working?”