P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Toto Wolff has dropped a hint about who will form Mercedes driver line-up.
Mercedes’ team principal, Toto Wolff, has provided an update on the driver line-up for the 2026 F1 season. Despite earlier speculations about Max Verstappen joining, the reigning champion is staying with Red Bull. Therefore, Mercedes is likely to retain its current drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Russell’s contract expires this season, but talks are ongoing for a possible extension. Antonelli, a rookie replacing Lewis Hamilton, received a one-year deal. Wolff hinted at the continuation of the Russell-Antonelli pairing for the 2026 season, praising Russell’s performance and expressing confidence in Antonelli’s potential. Official confirmation is yet to be announced by the team.
