Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff offers update on 2026 Mercedes driver lineup

Formula 1

Toto Wolff offers update on 2026 Mercedes driver lineup

The Brit is out of contract at the end of the year

Originally written by Chris Deeley. This version is a translation.

Monday 16 June 2025 18:00

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff has revealed that things are 'on track' in terms of the team's plans for their 2026 driver lineup.

George Russell is in his fourth season as a Mercedes driver, but currently finds himself out of contract at the end of the 2025 campaign.

The Mercedes man sits fourth in the championship behind Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and stunned his rivals in Montreal over the weekend.

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Indeed, Russell not only took pole for the Canadian Grand Prix with a super lap, he converted it into a race victory on Sunday.

George Russell Mercedes contract update

“We know what he’s capable of doing, and he has been leading this team now since a while. He has the pace and the right attitude.

"He’s been a Mercedes junior such a long time, and we are on track in doing what we’ve always planned.”

The Austrian supremo has seen a Mercedes team claim 134 pole positions since they returned to the sport in 2010, but ranked Russell's pole lap in Montreal as one of the best of the bunch.

“[It’s] right up there," Wolff said.

"Because if you look at the competitive field, with Max on the medium [tire] as well, the McLarens, the Ferraris strong, and he was able to pull a lap off.

"I think he was the only one in the 1m 10s. Very, very, very strong lap from him.”

NASCAR Max Verstappen Mercedes Lando Norris George Russell Oscar Piastri