P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes has not yet locked in its driver line-up for next year after showing interest in the possibility of signing Max Verstappen – a situation that has cooled in recent weeks.
Mercedes clarified that the delay in announcing their 2026 F1 driver line-up doesn’t indicate any uncertainty towards their current drivers. The team is yet to confirm their drivers for the upcoming season, which will see new technical regulations come into play. While there were rumors about Max Verstappen possibly moving to Mercedes, he later announced his continued commitment to Red Bull. It is anticipated that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will remain with Mercedes for another year. The team emphasized that they are not under pressure to set a timeline for the driver announcement, as these decisions are not strictly bound by deadlines. Mercedes’ representative, Bradley Lord, reiterated the importance of considering Toto Wolff’s statements regarding the matter.
