Mercedes Committed to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli as Their Driver Line-Up, Insists Toto Wolff

The 2025 season saw a significant change in the Mercedes driver line-up, with Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari and teenager Kimi Antonelli joining George Russell.

After a challenging campaign, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff publicly admitted to an interest in signing Red Bull's Max Verstappen, citing the need for 'some talks' to consider. However, the team ultimately decided to stick with both Russell and Antonelli for the 2026 season, which marks the beginning of F1's new era of regulations.

In an interview with Sky Sports F1, Wolff emphasized the team's commitment to their current driver line-up, stating, 'Yeah, we don't want to change things. We've said it also to George, and I think it's a line-up that is good for us. I'm very happy with the two of them.'

Wolff's comments come as surprise to some, given the team's struggles for form this season and the fact that Russell will be starting Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix from pole position, with Antonelli back in fourth.

When asked about the dynamic between Russell and Antonelli, Wolff praised the experience and resilience of his drivers, saying, 'When you go into F1, you are resilient, and you have to believe in yourself.' He added, 'I think George is particularly good at that. All throughout his career there have been ebbs and flows, and when someone appears to be very quick, but he has always been able to find himself and win.'

Wolff also acknowledged the speed and talent of Antonelli, stating, 'Kimi is clearly very fast, that's why we hired him, and George the same.' He expressed his confidence in the two drivers, saying, 'I have no doubt that that's going to continue.'

Despite the team's struggles this season, Wolff remains optimistic about the future, citing the potential for improvement and growth.

Russell's recent comments have also reassured the team that he is committed to Mercedes for the long-term, with a 'multi-year deal' and a clear statement that he 'will be here next year with the team.'

For now, the focus is on the Austrian Grand Prix, where Russell will look to capitalize on his pole position and push for a strong result for the team.

With the new era of regulations set to begin in 2026, Mercedes is committed to making a strong statement and staying competitive in the F1 world.