Mercedes renew Russell and Antonelli’s contracts... on short-term deals
The Brackley team confirms contract extensions until 2026. Wolff wanted Verstappen. The Italian, a far cry from George in his first year in F1.
After months of drawn-out negotiations, Mercedes-AMG Petronas has officially confirmed its driver lineup for the 2026 Formula 1 season: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will stay on for another year.
The announcement, made Wednesday afternoon (October 15, 2025, 9:00 AM EST), ends a period of uncertainty that saw team principal Toto Wolff reportedly exploring options with reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
The decision to renew both drivers for just one season brings Mercedes in line with most other teams on the grid, whose contracts typically run year-to-year. Until now, Mercedes had operated on a different timeline, often locking in drivers for longer terms.
A good year for Russell
Russell, 27, is coming off his strongest season yet, with wins in Montreal and Singapore, and currently sits fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with 237 points. “I’m proud to continue this journey with Mercedes,” Russell said. “Next year marks a decade since I first signed with the team as a development driver in 2017. We’re heading into the biggest rule change in the sport’s history, and I want to be part of that success”.
Antonelli, just 19, has had a more modest debut, scoring 88 points and landing a single podium in Canada. He’s seventh in the standings and has struggled to match Russell’s pace in both qualifying and race conditions. Still, Wolff’s personal investment in the young Italian has earned him another shot. “I’ve learned a lot this season—through the highs and the tough moments,” Antonelli said. “It’s made me stronger, not just as a driver. I’m grateful to Toto and the whole team”.
Wolff emphasized that the timing of the announcement was deliberate: “Confirming our lineup was never a question of if, but when. We took the time to negotiate properly and make sure everyone was happy. George and Kimi are a strong pairing, and we’re excited to move forward together. Our focus now is on the final six races of the season and preparing for the new era of F1 starting in 2026”.
What’s the situation with Verstappen?
Behind the scenes, Mercedes haven’t given up on Verstappen. Wolff reportedly made overtures to the Dutch driver earlier this year during Red Bull’s internal turmoil. Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull through 2028, but performance clauses could allow him to leave as early as 2027 if the car fails to deliver competitive results.
With Mercedes settled, the 2026 grid still has a few open seats: Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s second driver, and Alpine’s second seat, currently held by Franco Colapinto, remain unconfirmed.
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