Mercedes announces that Russell and Antonelli will continue in 2026

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will remain as Mercedes drivers for the 2026 season, when Formula 1 introduces the biggest technical regulation change in years. The official confirmation came this Tuesday, putting an end to months of speculation about a potential move of Max Verstappen to the German team.

Toto Wolff had publicly expressed his interest in Verstappen for several months. The four-time champion was unable to activate a performance clause that would have allowed him to leave Red Bull early. Verstappen was in third position in the championship when the summer break arrived, which definitively closed that option.

Commercial Appearances Delayed the Announcement

Negotiations with Russell were prolonged by an additional two and a half months after the Verstappen option was ruled out. According to sources close to the negotiations, contractual public relations appearances were the main point of friction between the parties.

Russell will enter his fifth season as a Mercedes race driver. He signed with the team's development program in 2017 and arrived as a race driver in 2022 from Williams. So far in 2025, he has achieved victories in Canada and Singapore, plus two pole positions.

Photo By Mercedes F1

Russell Scores Podiums in Half the Races

Russell has nine podiums in 18 races, including his victories in Canada and Singapore. Half of his races this year ended in the top 3. He has scored points in 15 of the 18 Grands Prix, with an average of 17.3 points per race. Only Monaco and Britain saw him finish outside the top 10.

"Next year will mark my tenth since I signed with Mercedes in 2017. It has been such a long and successful partnership with the team so far and I can't wait to see what the future holds, particularly as we embark on one of the biggest regulation changes in the sport's history," said Russell.

Antonelli Combines Flashes of Speed with Inconsistency

Antonelli achieved his first F1 podium at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he finished third in the same race that Russell won. The rookie has scored points in 11 of the 18 races, although his season has been inconsistent. Four retirements and three qualifying sessions outside the top 15 contrast with his ability to fight in the top 5.

"I have learned a lot in my first season in F1, both in the good moments and the more challenging ones. All of them have made me stronger, not only as a driver but also as a teammate," said Antonelli.

The gap to Russell is evident: nine podiums against one, a podium rate of 50% compared to just 5.5%. Together they have scored 311 points this season, although Russell's contribution is considerably larger. The team remains confident in Antonelli's progression for 2026.

Photo By Mercedes F1

27-Point Lead Over Ferrari in Constructors'

Mercedes holds second position in the constructors' championship with 325 points, 27 ahead of Ferrari and 35 more than Red Bull. McLaren leads the standings with 650 points, more than double that of Mercedes.

Wolff confirmed that the immediate focus is on securing the runner-up position in the remaining six races before concentrating fully on the new 2026 regulations. "George and Kimi have proven to be a good pairing and we are excited to continue our journey together."