Mercedes has finally officially announced that drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will continue to drive for the Brackley-based team in 2026.
After team boss Toto Wolff had already publicly emphasized several times that he would continue with his drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the 2026 Formula 1 season, Mercedes finally confirmed this officially on Wednesday.
“Confirming our driver pairing was always a question of when, not if. We wanted to take our time, conduct the negotiations properly and ensure that all sides were satisfied. I’m glad we’ve managed to do that,” explains Wolff.
“George and Kimi have proven to be a strong duo, and we look forward to continuing our journey together. Our focus is now on the remaining six races of the year, in which we will be fighting for second place in the constructors’ championship, as well as on 2026 and the start of a new era in F1.”
The contract extension means that Antonelli will be entering his second season in Formula 1 and with Mercedes next year. For teammate Russell, it will be his eighth season in the premier class, the fifth of which will be with the Mercedes factory team.
The 27-year-old Briton first entered Formula 1 in 2019 with Mercedes customer team Williams and was given a one-off opportunity to replace Lewis Hamilton, who was ill with COVID-19, in the factory team at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2020.
He has been a regular driver for the Silver Arrows since 2022 and has since won one sprint and five Grand Prix victories in Formula 1. His 19-year-old teammate Antonelli has been on the podium once so far, finishing third at this year’s Canadian Grand Prix.
“I am very proud to continue our journey together,” said Russell, who emphasized: “Next year will mark ten years since I first signed with Mercedes in 2017. It has been a long and successful partnership with the team so far, and I am excited to see what lies ahead.”
Teammate Antonelli adds: “I am delighted to continue to be part of the team in the future. In my first season in Formula 1, I learned a lot, both in good times and in difficult moments.“ ”All of this has made me stronger, not only as a driver but also as a teammate. I would like to thank Toto and everyone at Brackley and Brixworth for their continued support and trust in me,” said the Italian.
The sticking points in the negotiations between Russell and Mercedes are said to have been the number of marketing appointments and the contract term. As a result, the talks between the parties took much longer than many had expected.
Toto Wolff had already explained to Sky before the Formula 1 summer break: “Nobody needs to worry. Everything [is] fine. We’ll continue as before.” However, the official announcement has only now been made, more than two months later. It also remains unclear what will happen in 2027. The official press release only mentions that both drivers will continue in 2026.