Toto Wolff recently spoke about Mercedes’ decision to retain their current driver line-up for 2026, focusing on George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the team’s future stars. Speaking at the Autosport Business Exchange in New York, Toto Wolff emphasized the progress of both young drivers and defended George Russell, who he believes has often been underestimated during his time as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate.
Since Lewis Hamilton’s departure, Russell has taken on the role of team leader at Mercedes, securing two victories in 2025 and guiding the squad in the fight for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Despite this, his future with the team appeared uncertain until recently. Rumors circulated during contract renewal talks suggesting Wolff had approached Max Verstappen to join Mercedes in 2026, but after Verstappen reaffirmed his loyalty to Red Bull, Mercedes confirmed Russell and Antonelli as their drivers for the next season.
Wolff on Russell’s enduring value
Wolff explained why his confidence in Russell never wavered: “I think there was a lot of fuss around Lewis leaving and an eighteen-year-old joining, but the risk wasn’t actually that big because we had George,” he said.
“In a way, he has always been underestimated, perhaps because of his more introverted personality. And of course, if your teammate is Lewis Hamilton, you don’t get much attention. If George had adopted Lewis’ lifestyle and fashion, he might have been more in the spotlight, but that’s not his way of being.”
Antonelli and the long-term bet
Lewis Hamilton’s departure forced Wolff to act quickly to find a replacement. Despite interest from several established drivers, including Carlos Sainz, the team chose Andrea Kimi Antonelli, an 18-year-old Italian talent, as a long-term investment.
“Bringing Kimi into the team was a long-term plan,” Toto Wolff explained. “We knew giving him just one year with these rules would be tough. Ground-effect cars are complex to understand, as are the tires. He also doesn’t know many circuits yet, and there’s enormous media pressure, especially for an Italian. Italy hasn’t had a world champion in 50 or 60 years, and that weighs on him.”
Despite ups and downs, Toto Wolff remains confident in Antonelli’s potential: “The pressure in Europe was immense, but we learned the lesson and protected him a bit. The last two races have been very good; he’s back on track. Next year will be a fresh start for him: he’s seen everything, learned a lot, and I’m sure he will do very well.”
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