F1 | Toto Wolff addresses why Mercedes has not yet confirmed the 2026 contracts for its drivers
Toto Wolff has commented on the situation regarding George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, explaining why their contract renewals have been delayed. Max Verstappen had frequently been linked to Mercedes following Christian Horner’s departure, which put one of the Brackley drivers at potential risk. Since those rumors were silenced, however, no official confirmations have arrived for Antonelli and Russell, who are still waiting for their renewals.
Speaking to the media in the Netherlands, Toto Wolff clarified his intentions for the two drivers currently racing the W16 this season. “There is no reason not to continue with both of them: they are performing well.” The team principal went on to praise George Russell’s work, noting that he consistently maximizes results despite a car that is not always competitive. Regarding Kimi Antonelli, Toto Wolff added: “With Kimi, we just need to rebuild trust. But the speed is definitely there.”
Still no renewal for 2026
Given these comments on his two drivers, it is natural to wonder why Mercedes has been so slow to announce the 2026 lineup. Toto Wolff explained this during the team principal press conference in the Netherlands, specifically referring to George Russell’s contract.
“The renewal is largely a formality. At the same time, it is important to discuss even the smallest details: how can we get the most out of George’s performance? What do we need to optimize during marketing days, for example? And it’s not about the number of marketing days, but rather about structuring them in a way that helps him perform at his best. These are the key aspects. We didn’t discuss this over the summer because we felt the need to step back for a while and revisit it later. We have already resumed negotiations.”
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