Toto Wolff reveals Mercedes F1 2026 driver line-up deadline

Toto Wolff has asserted Mercedes will finalise its driver line-up for the 2026 F1 season around the summer break this year.

The Brackley-based squad has not yet secured one of the seats for next year's campaign, which will be run under a new set of technical regulations.

Rookie Kimi Antonelli, who has been associated with Mercedes for several years, is widely expected to stay, given the team's long-term ambitions with the Italian.

George Russell's future has been less certain as Wolff has verified his interest in poaching Max Verstappen from Red Bull amid the energy drink-backed squad's dip in form over the last 12 months.

But Wolff has asserted he wants to avoid being “sadistic” when it comes to forcing drivers to wait for news over a fresh contract.

“You need to be respectful towards the stakeholders in all of that process,” Wolff told media including RacingNews365.

“The organisation, the drivers, everybody. You need to understand the way forward.

“And I don’t want to be sadistic in letting a driver wait or not taking any decisions when it should be taken. So I feel we’re in a good space in June.”

The summer break will officially begin at the start of August, following the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Wolff has signalled his hope of putting all discussions and speculation to rest in that time by tying down his two drivers for 2026.

“Obviously there’s lots of discussions around. I’ve been open with it and transparent,” he said.

“And at a certain stage in the next couple of months – until the summer break, we need to know. Until the summer break, everything is going to be done.”