George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will kind Mercedes’ Components 1 driver line-up for the 2026 season, the workforce have introduced.
The eight-time World Champions have opted to stay with Russell and Antonelli, who’re each merchandise of the workforce’s junior programme and have guided the Silver Arrows to P2 within the Teams’ Championship with six race weekends to go.
Russell was promoted to the works workforce in 2022, after three years at Williams, and has since clinched 5 Grands Prix wins, the final of which coming final day trip in Singapore.
Subsequent yr shall be his eighth in F1 and tenth marketing campaign for Mercedes having joined their junior programme in 2017.
Rookie Antonelli has had some massive peaks this yr, together with Dash pole in Miami and a podium in Canada the place he grew to become the youngest podium finisher in F1 historical past, but additionally endured a troublesome run via the European leg of the season earlier than rebounding with two top-five finishes in Baku and Singapore.
On the eve of the United States Grand Prix weekend, Mercedes moved to verify each have been staying.
“Confirming our driver line-up was all the time only a matter of when, not if,” mentioned Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “We needed to take our time, deal with the negotiations correctly and ensure everybody, on all sides, was glad.
“I am happy we have now carried out that. George and Kimi have proved a robust pairing and we’re excited to proceed our journey collectively.
“Our focus is now on the ultimate six races of the yr, as we struggle for second within the Constructors’, and onwards to 2026 and a brand new period in F1.”
Russell mentioned: “I’m actually proud to be persevering with our journey collectively. Subsequent yr will mark my tenth since I signed with Mercedes again in 2017.
“It has been such a protracted and profitable partnership with the workforce to this point and I can’t wait to see what lies forward, notably as we embark on one of many largest regulation adjustments within the sport’s historical past subsequent yr.
“We’re all extremely targeted on making {that a} success and, for me personally, constructing on what has been my strongest season in F1 thus far.”
Antonelli mentioned: “I’m tremendous excited to be persevering with with the workforce. I’ve learnt a lot in my first season in F1, each within the good moments and the more difficult ones.
“These have all made me stronger, not solely as a driver however as a workforce mate too. I wish to say thanks to Toto and everybody at Brackley and Brixworth for his or her continued help and religion in me.
“Our focus now could be to complete this yr strongly and safe second within the Constructors’ Championship, earlier than we then flip our full consideration to 2026. There’s loads for us nonetheless to realize in these ultimate six races and we shall be giving it our all.”
That leaves simply 4 seats remaining on the 2026 grid – one at Pink Bull, two at Racing Bulls and one at Alpine.
Isack Hadjar is the main contender to turn out to be Max Verstappen’s workforce mate at Pink Bull, whereas F2 racer Arvid Lindblad is favorite to be promoted into one of many Racing Bulls seats.
That would depart Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson to struggle over the remaining Racing Bulls seat, with Tsunoda believed to be holding the sting at this stage.
Franco Colapinto is favourite to retain his seat at Alpine alongside Pierre Gasly, however reserve Paul Aron stays within the body.
