Mercedes Confirms Driver Lineup for 2026: Russell and Antonelli to Continue
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has reaffirmed that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will remain with the team for the 2026 season. Despite the lack of formal contract announcements, Wolff emphasized the continuity in the driver lineup is assured.
While in Zandvoort, Russell played down the urgency of finalizing his contract, stating he is focused on the current season. Wolff acknowledged some logistical discussions remain regarding Russell’s schedule, particularly concerning travel and marketing commitments, but assured that both drivers will be competing for Mercedes next year.
“I always said there’s not going to be any big news because we’re doing this,” Wolff said. “We want to optimize the travel and media activities to enhance performance.”
There will be no major announcements during the upcoming Monza race weekend. Instead, teams can expect a simple confirmation of contract signatures.
Russell is currently vying for third place in the drivers’ championship. Conversely, Antonelli faced challenges at the Dutch Grand Prix, including an early exit from FP1 and a collision with Charles Leclerc during the race, which resulted in penalties. Wolff views these hurdles as part of Antonelli’s development as a rookie driver.
“At the beginning of the year, we stated it would be a learning season for Antonelli,” Wolff noted. “There would be times of frustration as well as moments of brilliance, which this weekend exemplified.”
Overall, Wolff remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory, emphasizing that the current season is about development rather than championship contention. “We’re not focused on the Constructors’ Championship this year; the lessons learned are vital for next season,” he concluded.
