Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff issued a timeline for the team's driver lineup as George Russell's contract expires and Max Verstappen rumors swirl. Russell asserted himself as the team leader at Mercedes this season,

Toto Wolff has indicated when Mercedes will announce their 2026 contract decision, after the team principal confirmed talks with F1 champion Max Verstappen in Austria. Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s deals expire at the end of this year, with the British driver’s contract in particular attracting questions at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Toto Wolff has confirmed that Mercedes is exploring the possibility of signing Max Verstappen in the future but insists it is not impacting ongoing contract talks with George Russell for 2026.