Russell and Antonelli confirmed as 2026 Mercedes line-up

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will form Mercedes' Formula 1 driver line-up for the 2026 season, the team have announced.

The eight-time World Champions have opted to stick with Russell and Antonelli, who are both products of the team's junior programme and have guided the Silver Arrows to P2 in the Teams' Championship with six race weekends to go.

Russell was promoted to the works team in 2022, after three years at Williams, and has since clinched five Grands Prix wins, the last of which coming last time out in Singapore.

Next year will be his eighth in F1 and 10th campaign for Mercedes having joined their junior programme in 2017.

Rookie Antonelli has had some big peaks this year, including Sprint pole in Miami and a podium in Canada where he became the youngest podium finisher in F1 history, but also endured a difficult run through the European leg of the season before rebounding with two top-five finishes in Baku and Singapore.

On the eve of the United States Grand Prix weekend, Mercedes moved to confirm both were staying.

"Confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. "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.

"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.”

Russell said: "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.

"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."

Antonelli said: "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 team mate too. I want to say thank you to Toto and everyone at Brackley and Brixworth for their continued support and faith in me.

“Our focus now is to finish this year strongly and secure second in the Constructors' Championship, before we then turn our full attention to 2026. There’s plenty for us still to achieve in these final six races and we will be giving it our all.”

That leaves just four seats remaining on the 2026 grid – one at Red Bull, two at Racing Bulls and one at Alpine.

Isack Hadjar is the leading contender to become Max Verstappen's team mate at Red Bull, while F2 racer Arvid Lindblad is favourite to be promoted into one of the Racing Bulls seats.

That would leave Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson to fight over the remaining Racing Bulls seat, with Tsunoda believed to be holding the edge at this stage.

Franco Colapinto is favourite to retain his seat at Alpine alongside Pierre Gasly, but reserve Paul Aron remains in the frame.