Mercedes will retain George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli as its drivers for the 2026 Formula 1 season, the team has announced.
A product of the brand’s young driver programme, Russell will compete in his eighth F1 season – his fifth as a Mercedes racer. The 27-year-old Briton currently lies fourth in the drivers’ championship and, alongside seventh-placed Antonelli, has highly contributed to Mercedes occupying the runner-up spot in the constructors’ standings.
Antonelli has experienced a tougher rookie campaign than anticipated, suffering from a lack of confidence and consequent inconsistency, but the third-youngest F1 driver in history still showed the flashes of speed that were expected of him and finished the latest two grands prix in the top five.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Erik Junius
There had been little doubt regarding the team’s line-up since Max Verstappen went into the summer break in third position in the drivers’ standings, which meant he couldn’t activate a performance clause allowing him to leave Red Bull early. Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff never concealed his interest for the four-time world champion.
Nevertheless, the team’s talks with Russell dragged on for another two months and a half, officially as they quibbled about contractual PR appearances.
More to follow…
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