Wolff: Mercedes 2026 driver line-up will be sorted during F1 summer break
With speculation over a move for Max Verstappen, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has stressed the importance on tying down his driver line-up beyond the current season
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Photo by: Mark Thompson - Getty Images
Toto Wolff insists he wants the Mercedes driver line-up for 2026 sorted by the time the Formula 1 season resumes following the summer break.
With both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli yet to be signed for next season, Mercedes could yet be tempted to look elsewhere ahead of the introduction of the new regulations.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen remains a favourite of Wolff, who flirted with the idea of bringing in the Dutchman this year before opting to give a chance to rookie Antonelli, who has impressed in flashes so far.
Over the course of the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, both Wolff and Russell spoke about Mercedes talking to Verstappen – even if the former said there was “very little probability” in signing the Red Bull driver for next year.
Despite making all the right noises about both Russell and Antonelli, Wolff is yet to fully commit to the duo for 2026.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes, George Russell, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Photo by: GSI / Icon Sport via Getty Images
However, he said after the race in Austria, where Russell came home a distant fifth and Antonelli retired after he crashed into Verstappen on the opening lap, that he wanted the situation sorted between the Hungarian GP in early August and the return to action at the Dutch GP four weeks later.
“You need to be respectable towards the stakeholders in all of that process. The organisation, the drivers, everybody. You need to understand the way forward,” the Mercedes team principal said on making a decision on drivers.
“And I don't want to be sadistic in letting a driver wait or not taking any decisions when it should be taken. So I feel we're in a good space. We're [in] June.
“Obviously there's lots of discussions around. I've been open with it and transparent. And at a certain stage in the next couple of months - until the summer break, we need to know. Until the summer break, everything is going to be done.”
Pushed on whether that meant before or after the summer break, Wolff added with a smile: “Maybe in the middle.”
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