Mercedes has revealed that it will continue with its driver lineup of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season. The announcement was made just prior to the United States Grand Prix weekend and follows Russell's impressive performance that secured him a dominant win in Singapore just ten days prior.
Team principal Toto Wolff emphasized the team's careful approach in the decision-making process. "Confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if," said Wolff. He explained that the team wanted to ensure all parties were satisfied, stating, "I’m pleased we have done that. George and Kimi have proved a strong pairing and we’re excited to continue our journey together. Our focus is now on the final six races of the year, as we fight for second in the Constructors’ Championship, and onwards to 2026 and a new era in F1."
Following the summer announcement from Max Verstappen about his continued tenure at Red Bull, it became clear that Mercedes would maintain its lineup. Negotiations for Russell's contract did take time as they sought satisfactory conditions for both the team and the driver. Despite these discussions, Russell’s position has been solidified, as highlighted by his performance this season—he is currently the only driver, aside from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, and Verstappen, to secure wins in this campaign.
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While the specifics of Russell's contract were not disclosed, the announcement indicated that both he and Antonelli would continue "into 2026."
F1 faces substantial changes in regulations for the next season, overhauling both chassis and engine specifications. As the landscape shifts, teams are aligning their strategies. Russell, sitting in fourth place in the drivers' championship with two victories under his belt, expressed his enthusiasm about the future. "I am really proud to be continuing our journey together. Next year will mark my 10th since I signed with Mercedes back in 2017. It has been such a long and successful partnership with the team so far and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead, particularly as we embark on regulation changes. We are all incredibly focused on making that a success and, for me personally, building on what has been my strongest season in F1 to date," Russell remarked.
Kimi Antonelli, who has had a mixed first year with the team after stepping in for the legendary Lewis Hamilton, has shown flashes of potential that excite the team. Despite a challenging start, where Wolff described his performance at the Italian GP as "underwhelming," Antonelli secured a pole position at the Miami sprint race and claimed third place in Canada, where his teammate Russell won.
The 19-year-old driver acknowledged the pressures of his rookie season, saying, "I’m super-excited to be continuing with the team. I’ve learnt so much in my first season in F1, both in the good moments and the more challenging ones. Those have all made me stronger, not only as a driver but as a team-mate too. I want to say thank you to Toto and everyone at Brackley and Brixworth for their continued support and faith in me."
With Russell and Antonelli set to lead Mercedes into the next season, the team's focus will now shift to maximizing their results in the remaining races of 2025 while preparing for the significant changes in the F1 landscape for 2026. The upcoming races will be pivotal as Mercedes aims to solidify its standings for the Constructors' Championship while building momentum into the new era of Formula 1.