George Russell Stays At Mercedes Next Season But Door Not Shut On Pursuit Of Verstappen

George Russell will stay pinch Mercedes for adjacent play aft nan Formula One squad confirmed they would beryllium sticking pinch their drivers successful 2026. However, nan magnitude of nan contracts signed by nan Briton and his teammate Kimi Antonelli has not been specified, perchance leaving nan Formula One squad unfastened to erstwhile much prosecute Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for 2027.

The long-expected determination comes aft a prolonged play of speech pinch Russell, arsenic Mercedes seeks stableness going into nan caller regulations of 2026. The 27-year-old British driver has 5 wins successful 8 seasons successful F1, including triumph successful Singapore, helping propel Mercedes into a conflict for 2nd successful nan world title pinch Ferrari and Red Bull.

Russell, who came up done nan Mercedes inferior programme, is 4th successful nan world championship. “I americium really proud to beryllium continuing our travel together,” he said. “Next twelvemonth will people my 10th since I signed pinch Mercedes backmost successful 2017. It has been specified a agelong and successful business truthful acold and I can’t hold to spot what lies ahead, peculiarly arsenic we embark connected 1 of nan largest regularisation changes successful nan sport’s history adjacent year.”

It is understood his desire to trim his trading and PR commitments was portion of nan woody but nan magnitude of nan statement is apt to person played a important part. This twelvemonth nan Mercedes squad principal, Toto Wolff, made nary concealed of his desire to lure nan four-time world champion Verstappen distant from Red Bull.

However, earlier nan Hungarian Grand Prix, Verstappen confirmed he would remain pinch Red Bull for 2026, truthful Mercedes were expected to instrumentality pinch their drivers for nan caller season.

The team’s announcement, made earlier this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, makes nary mention of nan long of nan caller deals. A two-year statement is modular but some drivers could beryllium connected a 1+1 woody which enables either statement to workout an opt-out aft nan first year.

Kimi Antonelli has besides signed a caller woody pinch Mercedes. Photograph: Jayce Illman/Getty Images

With a complete reset of nan regulations adjacent play nan shape book could alteration radically and Mercedes will beryllium looking to beryllium elastic travel mid-season erstwhile it becomes clear who has travel retired connected top, leaving nan doorway unfastened for different pursuit of Verstappen. A move would look much charismatic to nan Dutch world champion should, arsenic galore expect, Mercedes look pinch a beardown car.

The 19-year-old Antonelli, who was brought successful from nan team’s inferior programme to switch Lewis Hamilton this season, has had a rollercoaster first twelvemonth successful F1 but became nan 3rd youngest driver to return a podium pinch 3rd spot successful Canada. In seventh successful nan drivers’ championship, nan Italian is nan highest-placed of this season’s rookie intake.

“Confirming our driver lineup was ever conscionable a matter of when, not if,” said Wolff. “We wanted to return our time, grip nan negotiations decently and make judge everyone, connected each sides, was happy. George and Kimi person proved a beardown pairing and we’re excited to proceed our travel together.”