Mercedes Team Experiences Confidence Dip Due to Lost Link, Hindering Progress
As the 2025 Formula One season reaches its midpoint, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, the drivers for Mercedes, find themselves in a state of uncertainty regarding their contracts for the 2026 season.
Russell, who has been considering the best interest of both sides before signing a new deal with Mercedes, admits that the team holds the upper hand in negotiations due to his management agreement. Despite this, he remains confident about his place with the team, expecting an extension, especially since Max Verstappen has confirmed he will remain at Red Bull for 2026 [1][2][4].
Antonelli, a promising rookie who has gone scoreless in the last three races, has been feeling the pressure. After his early exit in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix last week, he shed tears, reflecting the challenges he has faced recently [3]. However, he, too, expresses confidence in his position and the team's plans for the future [2].
Reports suggest that Russell is likely to secure a new two-year deal, extending his contract until at least 2027. This move would signal Mercedes' strong commitment to him, despite earlier public discussions about possibly exploring Max Verstappen for the future [3].
Meanwhile, Red Bull faces an uncertain future with the departure of engine partner Honda and the recent turmoil surrounding the dismissal of long-time team principal Christian Horner. This could potentially make Verstappen a potential candidate for Mercedes in 2027, should 2026 not go well for Red Bull [5][6].
The Mercedes team, once a serial world champion, has not been performing up to their standards in recent races. After Russell's victory in Canada in mid-June, the works team has been struggling. Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes, called for an emergency meeting before the Hungarian Grand Prix due to the team's recent decline [7].
During this meeting, Russell and Antonelli, along with the engineers, were summoned. The old rear axle will be used again, and the experiment with a new suspension will be definitively ended in the Hungarian Grand Prix [8].
Lewis Hamilton, a Ferrari superstar, offered comfort to Antonelli during a brief visit to the motorhome. The Verstappen issue continues to hover over the negotiations between Toto Wolff and his drivers [9].
As of early August 2025, no official announcement has been made regarding the contract extensions for Russell and Antonelli. However, the expected outcome is that both drivers will continue with Mercedes into 2026, with Russell's contract renewal imminent.
[1] Autosport [2] Motorsport [3] RaceFans [4] GPUpdate [5] Formula1 [6] SkySports [7] ESPN [8] Motorsport [9] Autosport
- In future auto-racing seasons, Kimi Antonelli might find himself competing against Max Verstappen if the latter decides to switch teams, as Red Bull faces an uncertain future and Verstappen's contract is with Red Bull for 2026.
- Despite some challenges in the past few races, George Russell remains determined to secure a new contract with Mercedes, expressing confidence in his place with the team. radio sports racing grand-prix auto-racing
