Mercedes duo confident on 2026 futures as Verstappen link fades

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli both addressed their contract situations on Thursday at Spa, expressing confidence they will remain with Mercedes into 2026, despite earlier speculation linking the team to Max Verstappen.

"That's the one million-dollar question," Antonelli smiled when asked about his future beyond 2025. "I've never been worried, to be honest. I know the situation. Toto has been clear recently, so that's good to see.

"The team is working well. Me and George are working well together. There's a really good atmosphere, and the factory is pushing hard - not only for this year, but also next year. I'm pretty confident I'm in a good position."

Russell, who has yet to sign a contract for 2026, echoed that optimism but admitted he had expected more clarity by now.

"The intention was always to do it before the summer break… but there's no contract on the table yet, so it's not likely anything will be finalised in the next two weeks," he said.

Still, the Briton stressed he’s not worried, adding: "It's not really having any impact on me whatsoever. I don't lose any sleep over it… I'm managed by Mercedes, so ultimately they're in control of my destiny.

"I'm doing the job, have the majority of the points, and I think they want me as much as I want them."

"There are no discussions with other racing teams," he continued. "I believe the results speak for themselves… With all due modesty, I don't think there are many drivers who would do a better job here than me."

Their remarks followed recent comments by team boss Toto Wolff to Austrian broadcaster ORF: "Our direction is that we want to continue with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. That is our priority. I don't expect there to be any major surprises here."

Wolff’s tone marked a shift from earlier in the year, when Verstappen was openly linked to Mercedes.

Days ago, Wolff even refused to deny reports of a private meeting with the Red Bull star in Sardinia ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, joking: "People are making photo collages with airplanes - we've never had anything like this before."

Antonelli, whose rookie season has featured both promise and inconsistency, admitted the transition to Formula 1 has been demanding.

"It's been challenging… a few mistakes, a few issues. I think qualifying has been a bit weak," he said. "But I've been learning a lot, and the second half of the season is important to do the step and find more consistency myself."