Toto Wolff praises Mercedes’ driver lineup and believes “we don’t need Verstappen for now”. Toto Wolff praises Mercedes’ driver lineup, highlighting Kimi Antonelli’s progress and George Russell’s consistency.

A season of highs and lows

Even though Mercedes is currently second in the Constructors’ Championship, the 2025 season cannot be described as entirely satisfying for the team’s leadership. With a dominant McLaren, the Silver Arrows with the W16 have never been in contention for the titles, and the two wins achieved so far in Montreal and Singapore remain a modest haul for a team with Mercedes’ prestige and record of success.

Continuing with George and Kimi

Although no official announcement has been made, Toto Wolff also confirmed at Marina Bay that for 2026 the team will continue with the driver pairing of George Russell and 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli. The rookie from Bologna has had a season of ups and downs, but with two top-five finishes in the last two races, he appears to have regained some competitiveness.

Wolff on Antonelli and Verstappen

In an interview with Sport Bild, Toto Wolff analyzed Kimi Antonelli’s season: “He is doing a good job and meeting our expectations. Kimi has had some very strong races, like the third place in Canada, and some less impressive ones. It’s typical for a debut season.”

When asked about Max Verstappen, Toto Wolff stated: “Max is an exceptional driver and a great asset to any team. But we are happy with our guys, and Max is not part of our plans. Nothing can ever be ruled out in F1, but for now, we don’t need him. George has shown this year what he is capable of and makes no mistakes. We are very satisfied and confident for 2026 and beyond.” – the Mercedes team boss concluded.