P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Mercedes knows who it will field for the first season of the new power unit regulations.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will be retained for the 2026 F1 season following a mixed Dutch Grand Prix.
Antonelli faced penalties at Zandvoort, while Russell managed to clinch fourth despite damage from a collision with Charles Leclerc.
The young Italian driver’s point-scoring hopes were dashed due to penalties, continuing a challenging streak across the last five grands prix.
Despite recent setbacks, Mercedes’ investment in Antonelli’s development secures his place, while Russell’s future had been briefly speculated amidst links to Max Verstappen.
With Verstappen sticking with Red Bull, Russell will stay with the team pending finalizing official contracts for both drivers, with Wolff emphasizing a focus on optimizing their commitments for peak performance.
