Mercedes introduced Wednesday it has retained its present Method 1 driver line-up of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the 2026 season.
The rapid futures of the 2 drivers had not been unsure in current weeks, with workforce principal Toto Wolff stating they’d stay the drivers despite the fact that contract particulars had been nonetheless to be labored out. Nevertheless, following a 12 months during which Mercedes confirmed a transparent curiosity in Max Verstappen, the announcement of the retained line-up states each Russell and Antonelli are solely confirmed for one additional 12 months at this stage.
“Confirming our driver line-up was all the time only a matter of when, not if,” Wolff stated. “We needed to take our time, deal with the negotiations correctly and ensure everybody, on all sides, was completely satisfied. I am happy we now have executed that. George and Kimi have proved a powerful pairing and we’re excited to proceed our journey collectively.
“Our focus is now on the ultimate six races of the 12 months, as we battle for second within the constructors’, and onwards to 2026 and a brand new period in F1.”
Russell has delivered a formidable season to this point, profitable two races, together with final trip in Singapore, and at the moment sitting fourth within the drivers’ championship. The British driver – who’s managed by Mercedes and had little flexibility to hunt a transfer elsewhere – beforehand said he needed to ensure the small print of his new contract had been centered on.
“I’m actually proud to be persevering with our journey collectively,” Russell stated. “Subsequent 12 months will mark my tenth since I signed with Mercedes again in 2017. It has been such a protracted and profitable partnership with the workforce to this point and I can not wait to see what lies forward, significantly as we embark on one of many largest regulation adjustments within the sport’s historical past subsequent 12 months.
“We’re all extremely centered on making {that a} success and, for me personally, constructing on what has been my strongest season in F1 thus far.”
For Antonelli, the affirmation comes after an up-and-down rookie 12 months thus far, however the Italian has one podium to his identify and has completed within the prime 5 in every of the previous two races.
“I am tremendous excited to be persevering with with the workforce,” Antonelli stated. “I’ve realized a lot in my first season in F1, each within the good moments and the more difficult ones. These have all made me stronger, not solely as a driver however as a teammate too. I need to say thanks to Toto and everybody at Brackley and Brixworth for his or her continued assist and religion in me.
“Our focus now could be to complete this 12 months strongly and safe second within the constructors’ championship, earlier than we then flip our full consideration to 2026. There’s lots for us nonetheless to attain in these closing six races and we can be giving it our all.”
