Toto Wolff has finally admitted it: the Mercedes team principal genuinely tried to bring Max Verstappen to the team for the 2026 Formula 1 season. And according to reports, George Russell was fully aware of this attempt from the very beginning.
For several weeks, there has been growing speculation surrounding the future of the four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen. As time progressed, his intentions became increasingly clear. The Dutch driver appears fully committed to remaining with Red Bull Racing for at least one more season. Of course, with Formula 1 currently in its summer break, unexpected developments are always possible — nothing can be entirely ruled out in this sport.
During the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, Max Verstappen reportedly confirmed — albeit without a formal announcement — that he has decided to stay with Red Bull Racing. As a result, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team looks set to define its 2026 driver line-up with George Russell and rising Italian star Kimi Antonelli.
An official confirmation of this decision is expected soon. In fact, George Russell himself has indicated that a contract renewal with Mercedes was merely a matter of “when,” not “if.” His remarks suggest that internal discussions were already well underway.
Toto Wolff, speaking publicly on the matter, acknowledged that a formal announcement regarding Russell’s continued presence in the team will be made “shortly.” However, before finalizing any deals, the Austrian team principal wanted to seize the opportunity to explore the possibility of signing Max Verstappen.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Wolff was directly asked about the status of George Russell’s contract extension. His reply confirmed that Verstappen was indeed on Mercedes’ radar.
“I have always said that I am happy with my team — with George Russell and with Kimi Antonelli,” Wolff explained. “But suddenly, Max Verstappen’s future seemed uncertain. So I felt it was necessary to speak with him as well.”
The Mercedes team boss went on to clarify that Russell was kept fully informed throughout the process. “I was always very transparent with George: there was a 90% chance he would stay with us,” Wolff admitted. “But I also needed to have a conversation with Verstappen. Now that everything is clear, we can return to normal and move forward.”
As things stand, an official announcement from Mercedes confirming both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli as part of their long-term Formula 1 plans is expected within the next few weeks. This move would solidify the Silver Arrows’ future line-up heading into the new engine regulations era beginning in 2026.
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