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Motorsport

Mercedes to finalise 2026 driver line-up in F1’s summer break, says Toto Wolff

Toto Wolff Mercedes George Russell Andrea Kimi Antonelli Max Verstappen F1

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.”

Photos from Austrian GP - Race

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Bernie Ecclestone in the Paddock prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Austria .

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fans wave red and white flags in the grandstand .

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

A general view of the grid filled with people prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Austria.

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Derek Warwick, FIA Steward on the grid with Bernie Ecclestone

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fans make an Austrian flag tifo .

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Franco Colapinto, Alpine

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Andrea Stella, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Stella, McLaren

2025 Austrian Grand Prix - Sunday

Formula 1

67

In this article

Filip Cleeren

Formula 1

Max Verstappen

George Russell

Mercedes

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