By Jake Bayliss
Copyright walesonline
Mercedes are approaching a critical period as they consider their driver line-up for the next Formula 1 season. Both George Russell and young talent Kimi Antonelli have received praise this year, but their contracts expire at the end of the year. Russell is fourth in the drivers’ standings, with his win at the Canadian Grand Prix being the standout moment of the Brit’s season so far, along with five other podium finishes. On the other hand, Antonelli has shown potential but has had inconsistent results, although his first podium finish in Montreal showcased the success that the teenager could bring to Mercedes in the future. However, Max Verstappen’s potential departure from Red Bull in the next few years could affect any long-term plans. Wales Online has examined the best options for Mercedes ahead of next season. Russell has earned a new contract with Mercedes due to his performances for the team. The 27-year-old secured the fourth F1 victory of his career at the Canadian GP, and it appears that Mercedes is eager to extend his contract. Earlier this year, German publication Auto Motor und Sport reported that Russell and Mercedes had made significant progress in contract talks. The British driver previously confessed that he would have liked a deal to be finalised before the summer break, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has been clear about his position on Russell’s future. When questioned about the driver’s contract ahead of the Canadian GP, Wolff remarked: “He’s giving us all the reasons to do that quickly. We know what he’s capable of doing and he has been leading this team now since a while. He has the pace and the right attitude. He’s been a Mercedes junior [for] such a long time, and we are on track in doing what we’ve always planned.” Antonelli’s destiny seems a little more complicated than his Mercedes teammate. He started the campaign steadily, securing five top-six results in his opening six outings, but his performances have since become increasingly inconsistent. Across his subsequent six races, Antonelli withdrew four times and finished 18th, while also securing third in Montreal. Most recently, he has managed two top-10 finishes in his past four appearances. However, he has huge potential and Wolff has maintained that Mercedes plan to retain the same pairing. When questioned about his future ahead of the Belgian GP, Antonelli replied: “I’m sure the team knows what’s the best for especially next year, and I’m pretty confident that I’m in a good position.” Mercedes should offer Antonelli a new deal and permit the 19-year-old to keep developing. Given the previous speculation over Verstappen’s future, Antonelli might struggle to remain Russell’s teammate in future seasons, but the Italian is a low-cost option that could thrive in the future. The extra complexity surrounding Antonelli’s future involves Mercedes potentially pursuing Verstappen after next season. Following a disappointing beginning to the campaign, reports suggested that the Dutch driver might consider leaving Red Bull before his contract expires in 2028 due to a clause in his deal. Mercedes boss Wolff has previously been open about his respect for Verstappen. “This is a decision that Max needs to take, and there is no team up and down the grid that wouldn’t do handstands to have him in the car,” he said in March 2024. Verstappen will remain with Red Bull for 2026. However, as per the Express , Mercedes were among the teams strongly rumoured to be considering an approach for Verstappen should he have been prepared to leave Red Bull. A future move for Verstappen would affect Russell’s status as the primary driver and create further obstacles for Antonelli. Yet, given that Verstappen is currently unavailable, Mercedes should decide to push that idea to one side and ensure that such speculation doesn’t interfere with their preparations for next season.
