Mercedes aiming to keep George Russell and Kimi Antonelli next season
– George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are Mercedes' first choice for next season, team boss Toto Wolff said in comments appearing to rule out an immediate move for Red Bull's four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen.
The 27-year-old is third overall at the midpoint of the 24-round campaign, 69 points behind McLaren's overall leader Oscar Piastri and 61 adrift of the Australian's British teammate Lando Norris.
Verstappen's dream of a fifth successive title is gradually disappearing and, with a new engine era starting in 2026 and the Mercedes power unit expected to be the pick of the field, there has been talk of the Dutch driver switching teams.
That speculation was put in even sharper focus after Red Bull sacked long-serving team boss Christian Horner on July 9, with Laurent Mekies in charge at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
Russell's contract expires at the end of the season, although he is also managed by Mercedes, while 18-year-old rookie Antonelli joined only at the start of the 2025 season and is a big talent for the future.
'The direction of travel is that we want to continue with George and Kimi. That is the first priority,' Wolff told Austria's ORF television on July 23.
'You can't look past someone like Max and the plans he has for the future. We did that, but I don't think there will be any big surprises.'
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ORF said that while Verstappen had performance clauses, he would have needed to be outside the top three after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 6 to trigger his contract release. He is 18 points ahead of fourth-placed Russell.
Social media lit up earlier in July after Wolff and Verstappen were reported to be on holiday at the same time and in the same area of Sardinia, but the Mercedes boss dismissed any significance in that.
'If you go on holiday close to each other, it doesn't mean that you are also going to work together in Formula One,' he said. 'We have always got along well. We also happen to vacation in similar areas.'
For his part, Russell has always maintained that he sees himself staying with Mercedes next season, despite his contract situation.
'The likelihood I'm not at Mercedes next year, I think is exceptionally low,' he told reporters at Silverstone, when quizzed again about his future.
'I wouldn't be surprised if he (Verstappen) comes. And if he comes, I'd welcome him as a teammate. But I don't think he will. I want to continue with Mercedes into the future. The fact is Toto has never let me down. He's always given me his word.
'For me, it's nothing to worry about because I don't think I'll be going anywhere.'
The rumour mill had suggested that Antonelli could be loaned to Renault-owned Alpine, who will have Mercedes engines in 2026 and are run by Italian Flavio Briatore. REUTERS, AFP
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