One of the most iconic drivers in F1, Max Verstappen, has been loyal to Red Bull Racing for a while now. However, rumors of the Dutch driver moving to a different team are seldom out of the news.
Besides, the four-time champion has more than a handful of big teams that want to sign him, including Mercedes. Toto Wolff, the team’s co-owner, has stated his interest several times in onboarding the 28-year-old.
While there was a chance the Dutchman would choose Mercedes as his new home, the team’s recent announcement might have made Wolff’s dream seem a bit far-fetched.
Whom Did Toto Wolff And Mercedes Sign
British driver George Russell, who won his second race of the season, was in the final phase of his Mercedes contract, and there were several speculations about his next move. However, in Mercedes’ latest announcement, the team extended the 27-year-old’s contract along with Kimi Antonelli.
Wolff shared his thoughts about the delay in announcing the decision and said:
“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.”
It’s official 😉
We are delighted to confirm that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will continue as the team’s driver line-up into 2026
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) October 15, 2025
He even shed light on the team’s goals in the near future and added,” 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.”
Where Does Max Verstappen Stand After George Russell’s Contract Extension
The 27-year-old, too, had comments about his contract extension. While Mercedes did not give exact details about the length of Russell’s contract, it is speculated that the Briton has landed a multi-year deal. He added:
“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.”
Russell even mentioned where his focus would be for the upcoming season. He said, “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.”
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Antonelli too shared his thoughts about the move – “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 teammate too.”
While Mercedes has onboarded Russell and Antonelli for the next season, what Wolff does with his dream to land Verstappen remains to be seen. The Dutch driver is under contract with Red Bull until 2028. Now, the four-time champion, despite his performance, has been fairly displeased with his Red Bull machine in recent times.
If that were to continue in the near future while Mercedes continues to build on its momentum and thrives, it would not be extremely unlikely for the Dutchman to consider making a move.