In recent weeks, Formula 1 media have been talking about one thing and one thing only. Where will Max Verstappen drive in 2026? The loudest rumor making the rounds in the paddock was that the World Champion would be moving to Mercedes to replace George Russell at the team.
These rumors can now officially be put to bed as Verstappen has confirmed that he is staying at Red Bull for the foreseeable future. With that state of being, it can not be too long before Mercedes officially locks down George Russell for their lineup as Formula 1 prepares to enter its new era.
George Russell – The obvious choice for Mercedes’ next chapter
Over the last few years, Mercedes has fallen back in the order after dominating the sport for 8 years straight. After the 2021 season, it was announced that George Russell would partner with the 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton to continue their success. With Hamilton moving to Ferrari this season, Russell is now the top driver at the German outfit, and he has the record to prove it.
In a span of 3 years, George Russell has stood on the podium on 19 separate occasions. Among these, he stood on the top step 4 times. During this season, Russell managed to stay in the top 4 in the driver’s championship despite having to battle three other teams. He is the only race winner this season who isn’t Verstappen or a McLaren driver. All of these feats will help Russell when the time comes to negotiate a new contract.
During a recent interview with Sky Sports, Toto Wolff commented on the negotiations with Russell and what they are looking like:
“I would wish to have him in a safe place a little bit earlier. We haven’t managed to do that, but I’m optimistic that he’s going to sleep well over the summer break.”
Following these quotes, it appears not a matter of if they sign Russell for 2026 but more when and for how many years. Additionally, the same conundrum is happening for F1 rookie Kimi Antonelli, who also doesn’t have a seat for next year. Wolff elaborated on that later on with great enthusiasm.
Antonelli and Russell: A perfect pairing in the making at Mercedes?
At the halfway point of the 2024 season, Mercedes announced the signing of Andrea Kimi Antonelli for Hamilton’s seat in 2025. From the get-go in 2025, Antonelli has impressed drivers and critics alike with his raw pace and consistent driving in the top 10. Because of this, Toto Wolff has emphasized that their current lineup is one to bring them future success:
“I want to stay with Kimi and George as it stands, everything else is not realistic.”
Despite a recent slump in his consistency, we can all see the flashes of pace and talent that the Italian youngster shows on track whether it be taking Sprint pole in Miami or a double Mercedes podium in Canada. Thanks to these strong performances, Mercedes current lineup is looking positive to be locked down for years to come.
Another strong rumor in the current media is Mercedes’ engine for the new regulations. They reportedly are producing the most powerful ones of all the manufacturers. When you combine this with the very strong and still young lineup of the German outfit, we could be looking at another era of Mercedes dominance in the making.
