Wolff open to Verstappen-Antonelli pairing as FIA hails Boullier's WRC 'deal of century'

Toto Wolff has kept the door open to pairing Kimi Antonelli with Max Verstappen at Mercedes, while the FIA celebrated former McLaren boss Eric Boullier's appointment as WRC Promoter CEO as the "deal of the century." Hockenheim has also entered formal talks to revive the German Grand Prix, and Mercedes openly questioned whether McLaren's recent victory was truly driven by chassis upgrades alone.

Why it matters:

• Wolff's refusal to dismiss a Verstappen-Antonelli lineup signals Mercedes' ambition to assemble a super-team capable of reclaiming championship glory, regardless of the political friction such a pairing would create.
• Boullier's return gives the WRC an experienced F1 strategist at a critical commercial juncture, potentially elevating rallying's global profile through proven leadership.
• A German Grand Prix revival would end a seven-year absence and restore Formula 1 to one of its most storied and technically demanding European heartlands.

The details:

• Despite Verstappen's Red Bull contract running through 2028, Wolff stated Mercedes "wouldn't shy away" from the pairing, ensuring the driver market remains volatile into the second half of the 2026 season.
• Boullier takes charge of WRC Promoter following its acquisition by Cosmobilis and Park Square Capital, with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem hailing the deal as transformative for rallying's commercial future.
• Stefano Domenicali confirmed active negotiations with Hockenheim, though any return would likely materialize in the medium term rather than immediately.
• Mercedes suggested McLaren's Hungarian Grand Prix breakthrough owed significantly to the Woking squad's recent switch to an upgraded Mercedes power unit, subtly shifting credit away from the MCL40 chassis itself.
• Audi's debut campaign has yielded 12 points and eighth in the constructors' standings, a solid foundation for the works team but one that suggests the midfield will remain fiercely contested.

What's next:

These storylines will intensify once the summer break concludes. The Verstappen-to-Mercedes speculation will likely dominate the driver market through the autumn, while McLaren and Mercedes appear headed for a renewed technical rivalry as their power unit partnership evolves. For German fans, the prospect of Hockenheim's return offers a tangible reason to hope for 2027 or beyond.