Jul.25 (GMM) Toto Wolff says Mercedes is firmly planning to retain George Russell alongside championship leader Kimi Antonelli in 2027, while still refusing to rule out pairing the young Italian with Max Verstappen in the future.
Antonelli has exceeded even Mercedes’ expectations by leading the championship at just 19. “I think the boy is simply very good at processing and implementing feedback,” Wolff told Sky Deutschland in Hungary.
Russell is currently P3 in the championship and has suffered recent technical problems, but Wolff insists Mercedes’ current pairing will continue next season.
However, the Austrian left open the possibility of eventually recruiting Verstappen.
“We’re not afraid of having Max and Kimi together in the team at some point,” Wolff said.
The remark keeps Verstappen firmly in Mercedes’ longer-term thinking despite the Dutchman recently striking a calmer tone about his future at Red Bull.
Wolff also addressed Russell’s more difficult adaptation to the 2026 regulations, particularly the complex interaction between driving style and battery deployment.
“Some drivers say they enjoy it,” he said. “Others say you have to learn how to deal with it.”
“And still others say, ‘We want old-school racing. Full throttle to the corner, and whoever brakes last wins.'”
Wolff believes the Hungaroring better suits the intended character of the regulations than circuits such as Spa and Silverstone.
“Here you’re always flat out on the straights, braking as late as possible, and going through the corners as fast as you can. That’s exactly how racing has always been.”
“But a new and interesting component is where you deploy the battery.”
