Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says a decision about their driver line-up for the 2026 Formula One season will be made during the August break.
Mercedes 2026 F1 Line-Up: Team Boss Toto Wolff Says Decision Will Be Made In August Break
Toto Wolff also reiterated his happiness with his current pairing of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and said it was more likely that Russell would be driving for them in 2026 than Max Verstappen
Their line-up for next year came under the spotlight at the Austrian Grand Prix, with George Russell saying that Mercedes were talking to Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
The four-time champion has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, though it is understood there are clauses that could allow him to leave beforehand.
Wolff confirmed Russell's claim, saying there were "conversations behind closed doors", but insisted those talks were not holding up discussions over a new contract with the Brit, whose deal is set to run out at the end of this year.
He also reiterated his happiness with his current pairing of Russell and Kimi Antonelli, and said it was more likely that Russell would be driving for them in 2026 than Verstappen.
Wolff indicated that a final call on Mercedes' future would be made relatively soon, with three more Grands Prix to go before the next break.
"You need to be respectable towards the stakeholders in all of that process - the organisation, the drivers, everybody," said Wolff on the timeline for a decision.
"You need to understand the way forward. I don't want to be sadistic in letting a driver wait or not taking any decisions when it should be taken.
"I feel we are in a good space; there are lots of discussions around.
"I've been open with it, transparent. And at a certain stage, in the next couple of months, until the summer break, everything is going to be done."
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