Toto Wolff sets timetable for decision on Mercedes 2026 duo
Toto Wolff wants the Mercedes driver line-up for 2026 to be finalized by the end of the summer break in August.
George Russell is reaching the end of his contract with Mercedes at the end of this season and has not yet received an extension offer. His young teammate, Kimi Antonelli, on the other hand, has been signed long-term to succeed Lewis Hamilton.
Read also: George Russell jokes about a possible career change if he leaves F1
George Russell at Mercedes in 2026?
Mercedes has not yet fully committed to George Russell for 2026, and Toto Wolff admitted during the Austrian Grand Prix that the team is considering the possibility of recruiting Max Verstappen in the future.
Speaking after Sunday’s race at the Red Bull Ring, Toto Wolff revealed that he would like the Mercedes driver duo for next season to be confirmed between the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix in August.
« All stakeholders in this process must be respected: the organization, the drivers, everyone. We need to understand the direction to follow », he told the media in Spielberg.
« And I don’t want to be sadistic by leaving a driver waiting or by not making a decision at the moment it should be. I think we are in a good situation. We are in June. Obviously, there are a lot of discussions ongoing. I have been open and transparent about this. But at some point, in the next two months, before the summer break, we need to know. By then, everything will be settled. »
When asked if this decision would come before or after the break, Toto Wolff smiled: « Maybe in between. »
Can Mercedes really sign Max Verstappen?
Rumors about a potential move of Max Verstappen from Red Bull to Mercedes have intensified before the race weekend, especially after George Russell claimed that his contract negotiations were delayed because his team was also in discussions with the Dutch driver.
Max Verstappen, four-time world champion, is under contract with Red Bull until 2028, but it reportedly contains performance-related exit clauses, which could allow him to leave earlier.
« First of all, there is no delay concerning George’s contractual situation, as our schedule has been clear for a long time », assured Toto Wolff to Sky Sports.
« We’ve known each other for a very long time, so there’s no question of delay. But as the team principal responsible for the best automobile brand in the world, it’s normal to explore what a four-time world champion envisions for his future—whether in the short or long term. But this has no impact on whether or not to sign George’s contract. »
Toto Wolff has been trying to convince Max Verstappen since Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, announced his departure from Mercedes at the beginning of 2024.
