OFFICIAL: Mercedes confirms F1 2026 driver line up!
Mercedes has announced the team's driver line-up as Formula One welcomes a new era in the sport will be comprised of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if.- Toto Wolff
On the eve of the Austin Grand Prix race weekend Mercedes has announced its driver line up for the Formula One 2026 season, a decision which GPblog had reported earlier on in the year, but that has since lingered in the air.
Mercedes team principal and CEO, Toto Wolff said: “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.”
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.- George Russell
The announcement comes after Russell's dominant outing at the Singapore Grand Prix which earned him his second win of the 2025 F1 season.
The British driver said: "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.”
There’s plenty for us still to achieve in these final six races and we will be giving it our all.- Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Antonelli, after confirming his Baku podium with a P5 result in the Marina Bay Street Circuit said: “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.”
Read also
GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update
Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.
Popular on GPBlog
McLaren on high alert as key weakness deemed unfixable in 2025
New juicy chapter unfolds in Russell–Verstappen 2024 war of words
F1 Today | An early Perez return, and Brown lambasts 'ludicrous' claim
