'It's an open secret' - Wolff makes 2026 Mercedes F1 driver line-up revelation

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has voiced his desire to retain his current driver line-up 2026, labelling his wish as an “open secret”.

The Brackley-based squad promoted Kimi Antonelli to the team for the Italian's rookie F1 season this year, signing the 18-year-old to replace seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.

Antonelli has joined George Russell at the squad, who is partaking in his fourth campaign with the team and his seventh overall in F1.

However, Mercedes has consistently been linked as a potential destination for four-time champion Max Verstappen with Wolff publicly voicing his interest in signing the Dutchman last year.

But in his latest revelation, the Austrian asserted he is keen to retain the services of Russell and Antonelli.

“It's almost an open secret that we want to keep our drivers for the long term,” Wolff told motorsport.com. 

“We don't make every discussion we have with the drivers public and that's why this is going in the direction it should be going.”

However, Wolff detailed there are several areas that must be negotiated beyond simply assuring the driver he will race for the team

“But such a contract is more than just giving the driver the guarantee that he will be in the car," he added. 

“There are conditions that you have to discuss in the interest of the team and the driver. So it is a structured process.”