Wolff dismisses Rosberg shoot-out claim

Toto Wolff has rejected suggestions that George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli are facing a potential 'shootout' for the 2026 Mercedes seat. 

Mercedes protégé Antonelli was finally officially announced as Lewis Hamilton's replacement for 2025 on Saturday at the Italian Grand Prix, and will partner new team leader Russell, whose own contract expires at the end of next season. 

A potential curveball, however, lies in the shape of Max Verstappen, with Wolff launching a charm offensive throughout this season to try and lure the three-time F1 champion from Red Bull for 2026.

There is a potential chance due to the new power unit regulations given Mercedes' impressive track record and Red Bull will be making its debut in this area that year.

Should Verstappen sign for Mercedes in 2026, it would mean that either Russell or Antonelli would be jettisoned, with 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg indicating that a potential shoot-out situation had been created. 

Wolff, though, rejected this. 

"We are going to go long with these two, they have been in the junior programme since a very early age and it is clear that you always pick the best ones," he told Sky Sports F1. "As it stands, they will be the line-up. 

"There is always pressure, and [for George] in going against the GOAT (Lewis Hamilton), and you win, then people ask if the GOAT is still the GOAT. 

"You go up against the kid, it is the other way around, so it is okay and you've got to cope."

Verstappen move on pause

Verstappen has previously confirmed he will be staying at Red Bull for 2025, but his future beyond that is yet to be decided, although his contract expires at the end of 2028. 

Reflecting on the situation with the Verstappen camp, Wolff declared a temporary pause.

"Over the last few years, we've had an open channel and there were times when we were discussing it more, and discussing it less but it never came to a point where we said, 'Okay, how are we doing this? Let's put some terms together," he added.

"In that same way, we have a commitment to our drivers to give it our best effort, and this is George and Kimi all the way. 

"I am not flirting sideways whilst we're giving it all of that effort, and it is why for the moment, it is a pause."