Mercedes could soon tie down one of their drivers to a new contract ahead of next season.
Team principal Toto Wolff knew at the beginning of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign that he had two crucial decisions to make at Mercedes.
Both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli would have been well aware that they were entering the final year of their current deals.
Russell has gone from strength to strength this season, winning the Canadian Grand Prix and continually putting pressure on Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship.
Position Drivers’ Championship PointsPts 1 266 2 250 3 185 4 157 5 139 6 109 7 63 8 54 9 37 10 27
As a result, Russell appears to be edging closer to signing a new contract, which would put his mind at ease given Mercedes’ previous interest in Verstappen.
However, Antonelli’s recent difficult spell has put him in a tricky position.
The Italian teenager’s podium in Montreal is the only time he’s scored points in the last six races.
With Russell likely to be locked down on a new contract soon, journalist Chris Medland has shared how it could impact Antonelli going forward.
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Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty ImagesMercedes set to agree on ‘multi-year deal’ with George Russell
Medland was speaking about Russell’s future on the Pit Pass F1 Podcast and explained: “Now, I got a steer ahead of the race that talks are going in the right direction essentially for Russell to be agreeing a new deal to stay at Mercedes beyond this season, and that it seems like it could well be a multi-year deal that will show faith in him from Mercedes, and that his long-term future will be secure at that team.
“Now, I don’t know about break clauses or anything like that, but it’s something that Russell seems to be happy with, and the progress has been good.
TEAMDRIVER 1DRIVER 2AlpinePierre GaslyN/AAston MartinFernando AlonsoLance StrollAudiGabriel BortoletoNico HulkenbergCadillacN/AN/AFerrariCharles LeclercLewis HamiltonHaasEsteban OconOliver BearmanMcLarenLando NorrisOscar PiastriMercedesN/AN/ARacing BullsN/AN/ARed Bull RacingMax VerstappenN/AWilliamsAlex AlbonCarlos Sainz2026 confirmed F1 drivers
“I think there just hadn’t been a lot of progress for a number of weeks, but once we got that break in races, that allowed that to happen.
“So, it looks like Russell could be on the verge of a new multi-year deal at Mercedes.
“When that might get announced, I don’t know. From what I understood, it’s not a done deal yet, it’s just moving closer, and it’s the most positive comments I’ve heard on the topic since the start of the season, since we had some uncertainty over the interest in Max Verstappen as well.
“So, looks like things could be moving in the right direction for George.”
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Kimi Antonelli facing a ‘bit more pressure’ on his Mercedes future after George Russell deal
Antonelli’s 2025 seat at Mercedes appeared to be guaranteed for months after Lewis Hamilton’s exit, even if no announcement came from the team.
His crash in FP1 at Monza wasn’t the best way to confirm his presence on the grid this year, but there have been enough signs of progress that he’s justified Wolff’s decision to promote him.
Antonelli has said he’s suffering from a lack of confidence, and continuing to explain Mercedes’ contract expectations, Medland said: “That maybe puts a bit more pressure on Kimi Antonelli, who’s had a tough weekend, and he’s talked about the confidence crisis that he’s been in at the moment.
Position Constructors’ Standings PointsPts 1 516 2 248 3 220 4 192 5 70 6 43 7 41 8 36 9 35 10 20
“Mainly because, what it does is it sets up the tantalising prospect that if Mercedes do get Max Verstappen in a couple of years’ time, that it’ll be alongside George Russell, rather than instead of.
“That would mean they have to find somewhere else for Antonelli, who is clearly a brilliant talent, and that’s why it might just be the middle of a tough spell for Antonelli, but positive news for Russell at least.”
The combination of Antonelli and Russell looks set to continue for at least another season.
However, the threat of Verstappen is likely to loom over both drivers, particularly if Mercedes overperform and Red Bull fail to meet the Dutchman’s expectations.