Mercedes set to decide if George Russell or Kimi Antonelli will sign short-term deal amid Max Verstappen interest

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Mercedes have still not confirmed either of their drivers for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

George Russell has produced arguably the best first half of a season since making his F1 debut with Williams in 2019.

His victory in Canada was magnificent, and he’s only 15 points behind Max Verstappen in the drivers’ championship with 10 Grand Prix weekends to go.

On the other side of the Mercedes garage, Andrea Kimi Antonelli has shown moments of brilliance that have started to explain why he was chosen as Lewis Hamilton’s successor.

His pole position in the Sprint Race in Miami and podium finish at the Canadian Grand Prix have been the high points for the 18-year-old.

However, going into the summer break, Antonelli is 108 points behind his teammate.

Toto Wolff looks set to offer Russell and Antonelli new deals, but Mercedes still have one eye on Verstappen.

If the Dutchman decides to leave Red Bull in 2026, then Mercedes will need to make room for him, and journalist and paddock insider Tim Hauraney believes the Silver Arrows may have decided which of their drivers is going to be offered a short-term deal.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Mercedes F1 Team from team principal to lineage

Mercedes likely to offer Kimi Antonelli a short-term deal amid Max Verstappen interest

Hauraney was speaking on The Ringer Podcast about the Mercedes contract situation during the summer break.

Russell looks set to sign an improved Mercedes offer, and talking about his extraordinary season, Hauraney explained: “When you take a look at it from George’s perspective, he wants longer-term safety and security.

“Plus, if Mercedes nails this 2026 regulation, you don’t want to just go in and have a chance at winning a championship and then all of a sudden be bounced out of the seat or go in, win a championship and get bounced out of the seat.

“You want to be in it so you can win championships, especially because we know how well Mercedes does with power unit regulation change. They always do really well.

“So if I’m George, I’m definitely pushing for at least three years plus an option. He’s going to want more money, too, after some of the Grand Prix he’s been through. I mean, George has been fantastic this year. This is the best I’ve ever seen George drive.

“So why would you get rid of this driver? He’s only going to keep getting better.

“So that’s why, for me, I think George stays there on a longer-term deal. I think Kimi is going to be the one who’s going to have that one plus one, and then we’ll reevaluate and see where he’s at.

“I think maybe for Toto, he’s thinking like, I was able to deal with Rosberg and Hamilton. Maybe I can deal with Russell and Verstappen if that were ever to happen in the future.”

READ MORE: Know all about 2025 Mercedes F1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli including stats

Why Mercedes didn’t loan Kimi Antonelli out before his Mercedes F1 debut

As soon as Hamilton announced that he would be moving to Ferrari for the 2025 season, Antonelli’s name was immediately linked with the seat.

The likes of Carlos Sainz and even Sebastian Vettel were linked with Mercedes, but when Wolff announced that it would be Antonelli stepping up, he admitted the Italian was always his first choice.

Speaking exclusively to F1 Oversteer, Alex Jacques believes Antonelli wasn’t loaned out because of Esteban Ocon’s early F1 career, and how he ended up having to sit out for a year because of the way the driver market shook out.

Wolff admitted keeping Russell at Williams for three seasons was a regret as well, and it appears he was desperate not to repeat that mistake.

However, if Verstappen becomes available and Wolff decides to pair him with Russell, then Antonelli will have to move on.

The only thing the Italian can do is start to put in performances that convince Mercedes that they don’t need the four-time world champion.