George Russell stays at Mercedes next season but door not shut on pursuit of Verstappen

<ul><li><p>Team to stick by driver pairing before regulation change</p></li><li><p>Wolff remains keen on signing Dutch world champion</p></li></ul><p>George Russell will remain with Mercedes for next season after the Formula One team confirmed they would be sticking with their drivers in 2026. However, the length of the contracts signed by the Briton and his teammate Kimi Antonelli has not been specified, potentially leaving the Formula One team open to once more pursue Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for 2027.</p><p>The long-expected decision comes after a protracted period of negotiation with Russell, as Mercedes seeks stability going into the new regulations of 2026. The 27-year-old British driver has five wins in eight seasons in F1, including victory in Singapore, helping propel Mercedes into a fight for second in the world championship with Ferrari and Red Bull.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/oct/15/f1-george-russell-stays-at-mercedes-next-season-max-verstappen">Continue reading...</a>