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.
“I am really proud to be continuing our journey together,” Russell said. “Next year will mark my 10th since I signed with Mercedes back in 2017. It has been such a long and successful partnership with the team so far and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead, particularly as we embark on one of the largest regulation changes in the sport’s history next year. We are all incredibly focused on making that a success and, for me personally, building on what has been my strongest season in F1 to date.”
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.
“I’m super excited to be continuing with the team,” the 19-year-old Italian commented. “I’ve learnt so much in my first season in F1, both in the good moments and the more challenging ones. Those have all made me stronger, not only as a driver but as a team-mate too. I want to say thank you to Toto and everyone at Brackley and Brixworth for their continued support and faith in me.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Erik Junius
“Our focus now is to finish this year strongly and secure second in the constructors’ championship, before we then turn our full attention to 2026. There’s plenty for us still to achieve in these final six races and we will be giving it our all.”
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, with contractual PR appearances allegedly the crux of the issue.
“Confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if,” Wolff now insists. “We wanted to take our time, handle the negotiations properly and make sure everyone, on all sides, was happy. I’m pleased we have done that. George and Kimi have proved a strong pairing and we’re excited to continue our journey together. Our focus is now on the final six races of the year, as we fight for second in the constructors’, and onwards to 2026 and a new era in F1.”
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