Mercedes has denied that its delayed announcement regarding the 2026 F1 driver line-up indicates any doubt about its current drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Why it matters
Mercedes is yet to confirm its driver pairing for the 2026 season, which will introduce new technical regulations. This delay has led to speculation, particularly after Max Verstappen was briefly linked with the team. However, Mercedes asserts that the lack of an immediate announcement does not imply internal uncertainty or a change in their preferred line-up.
The context
- For much of the year, Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull was a topic of intense discussion, with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff openly exploring the possibility of signing the four-time champion.
- Verstappen has since committed his future to Red Bull, cooling the speculation of a shock move to Mercedes.
- Despite this, Mercedes has not made any official announcement regarding 2026. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are widely expected to form the team's driver pairing.
Mercedes' stance
According to Mercedes team representative Bradley Lord, there is no fixed timeline for the announcement, and a delay does not signify hesitation.
- "There’s no fixed timeline on anything because a timeline just creates a barrage of questions if that is or isn’t here," Lord stated.
- He emphasized that driver decisions are not bound by strict deadlines.
- Lord reiterated Toto Wolff's previous statements that the priority remains to continue with the current line-up into 2026.
- "Our full confidence, our full intention is exactly that [retaining Russell and Antonelli] for 2026, as Toto has said many times," Lord added.
What's next
While no specific date has been set, Mercedes confirms that an announcement confirming their 2026 driver line-up will be made "at some point in the future," reinforcing their commitment to Russell and Antonelli.