[REVISION HISTORY]

Mercedes driver lineup and Russell's future

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-07-31 00:24 UTC → 2026-07-31 17:33 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2026, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that the 2027 driver roster will stay unchanged, ~~with~~ pairing George Russell ~~paired~~ with rookie Andrea Kimi ~~Antonelli. Wolff highlighted continuity~~ Antonelli, while ~~the team addressed~~ noting technical reliability ~~concerns,~~ work and ~~noted that~~ keeping former champion Max Verstappen ~~remained~~ as a long‑term ~~option but was not being pursued immediately.~~ option. A few days later, former Haas principal Guenther Steiner ~~suggested that~~ said Russell is ~~evaluating~~ exploring a possible ~~move~~ switch to Audi for the 2028 season. Steiner highlighted the pressure on Russell after Antonelli surged to the top of the drivers’ standings with 219 points, ahead of Lewis Hamilton (169) and Russell (160). Audi, ~~having taken over~~ which completed its takeover of Sauber in at the start of 2026, is ~~building a competitive programme,~~ being run by former Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto and ~~the prospect of a works seat~~ ex‑Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, and is ~~adding pressure to Russell’s long‑term plans.~~ attracting interest from drivers such as Carlos Sainz. Wolff reiterated his desire to keep the current line‑up through 2027, ~~while~~ and Russell ~~affirmed~~ publicly reaffirmed his commitment to Mercedes for that ~~period.~~ period, though he indicated he does not wish to remain paired with Antonelli for the rest of his career.

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