Why did Mercedes stick to its current driver pairing for 2026?
Mercedes have confirmed that they will stick to their current driver line-up for the upcoming 2026 season, having extended George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli's existing contract.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will form Mercedes' Formula 1 driver line-up for the 2026 season, the team have announced on Wednesday.
Russell made his debut with Williams in 2019, and spent three years at the Grove-based outfit. After his three-year spell at Williams, he was promoted to Mercedes where he replaced Valtteri Bottas to partner seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Since he joined Mercedes, Russell has claimed five F1 victories, the last of which coming last time out in Singapore where he dominated both qualifying and the Grand Prix on Sunday.
After Hamilton announced his decision to leave Mercedes last year, the Brackley-based outfit elected to promote Andrea Kimi Antonelli to partner Russell for this season.
Although the Italian struggled to achieve consistency across the European leg of the season, he has had some big peaks this year, including Sprint pole in Miami and a podium in Canada where he became the youngest podium finisher in F1 history.
On the eve of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, Mercedes moved to confirm both Russell and Antonelli were staying which means that the team will embark on the sport's biggest technical reset with an unchanged driver line-up.
Commenting on the decision, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitted that the German-British outfit wanted to take its time before committing itself to its driver line-up for 2026.
"Confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if. We wanted to take our time, handle the negotiations properly and make sure everyone, on all sides, was happy.
"I'm pleased we have done that. George and Kimi have proved a strong pairing and we're excited to continue our journey together. Our focus is now on the final six races of the year, as we fight for second in the Constructors', and onwards to 2026 and a new era in F1.”
Russell will embark on his eighth season at the pinnacle of motorsport next year, and his tenth season as a Mercedes-backed driver.
"I am really proud to be continuing our journey together. Next year will mark my 10th since I signed with Mercedes back in 2017. It has been such a long and successful partnership with the team so far and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead, particularly as we embark on one of the largest regulation changes in the sport’s history next year.
"We are all incredibly focused on making that a success and, for me personally, building on what has been my strongest season in F1 to date," concluded the Briton.
Speaking of the announcement, Antonelli added that Mercedes can now put its focus on the fight for the second place in the constructors' championship.
"I’m super excited to be continuing with the team. I’ve learnt so much in my first season in F1, both in the good moments and the more challenging ones.
"Those have all made me stronger, not only as a driver but as a team mate too. I want to say thank you to Toto and everyone at Brackley and Brixworth for their continued support and faith in me.
“Our focus now is to finish this year strongly and secure second in the Constructors' Championship, before we then turn our full attention to 2026. There’s plenty for us still to achieve in these final six races and we will be giving it our all.”
