Wolff confirms Mercedes duo Antonelli and Russell for 2027 and does not rule out a later Verstappen signing

"We have not officially said anything yet, but at this point in time it is the only logical consequence," Wolff explained. The 19-year-old Italian has developed enormously over the past months and impresses above all with his ability to quickly implement feedback from the engineers. Antonelli currently leads the Formula 1 drivers' standings and is regarded as one of the greatest promises of his generation.

Verstappen remains an option

At the same time, Wolff kept a back door open for a later Verstappen transfer. The Dutch exceptional talent still has a contract at Red Bull running through the end of 2028 and, in Wolff's words, would be an extremely attractive candidate for Mercedes should the sporting or contractual situation at the Austrian rival change.

"We're not afraid of one day having Max and Kimi together in the team as well," Wolff stated. In doing so, he publicly raised for the first time a scenario in which Antonelli and Verstappen would sit together in the Silver Arrow. "It's not that I am afraid of it," Wolff said, referring to his experiences with Lewis Hamilton and Rosberg.

Experience with Hamilton and Rosberg

Hamilton and Rosberg once fought a poisonous team duel at Mercedes that culminated in an internal title fight and ultimately in Rosberg's retirement shortly after winning the world championship in 2016. Wolff, however, considers himself better positioned today to handle a comparable constellation. "I had it worse already with (Nico) Rosberg and (Lewis) Hamilton, would probably do it better today."

At the same time, Wolff urged that Antonelli be given further time to develop. "You have to give Kimi time to develop," Wolff stressed. The young Italian is only in his first full Formula 1 season and is gaining new experience at the front of the field in every race. Wolff already sees in him the potential for a long-term collaboration with the Brackley-based racing team.

The fact that Wolff is nevertheless talking about Verstappen underlines the unbroken attraction the four-time world champion holds on the driver market. Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes for months, also because his contract at Red Bull contains a back door that, in certain scenarios, could allow an early exit. As long as this clause has not been publicly interpreted, any transfer remains pure speculation.

Situation at Red Bull

Wolff expressly praised Verstappen for his current strength of performance. "Max is at his zenith, can do everything," Wolff said about a possible driver pairing of the currently 19-year-old Antonelli and the 28-year-old Verstappen. With this assessment Wolff categorized the Dutchman as a driver at the height of his powers who would be an asset in any top team.

For now, however, Mercedes is "happy" with the dynamic in the team, Wolff said, pointing to the sporting stability that Russell and Antonelli bring to the team. Russell, who is driving his fifth season at Mercedes, is regarded as a technically strong and consistent driver who has been able to claim individual wins and podium finishes in the past. Antonelli complements him as an up-and-coming young driver who brings rapid adaptability to new technology.

Immediately ahead of the Hungarian weekend, two priorities are therefore at the center for Mercedes: successfully tackling the current race weekend in Budapest and setting the course for the coming season. By reaffirming the current duo, the team is banking on continuity while at the same time leaving room to keep an eye on the Verstappen situation.

Outlook on Hungary

Formula 1 visits Hungary on Sunday at the Hungaroring east of Budapest. Mercedes wants to build on its strong performances from recent races there and make up ground on Red Bull in the constructors' standings. The mood in the Silver Arrows camp is described by those in charge as good, even though Wolff is well aware of the high bar set by Red Bull and other teams.

From a stock market perspective, Mercedes-Benz Group remains a heavyweight in the German blue-chip index. Analysts at various houses rate the stock predominantly positively, including Deutsche Bank and Jefferies with a "Buy" assessment, while RBC Capital Markets currently has it at "Sector Perform". Such ratings, however, have no direct link to the Formula 1 team, which competes as a works outfit under the name Mercedes-AMG Petronas.

For the current season, the announcement from Mercedes primarily means calm in the driver camp. With Antonelli and Russell, the axis is set for 2027, while Verstappen remains a bold option on the agenda. Wolff has thus skillfully managed to give both camps – the young talent around Antonelli and the top class around Verstappen – a perspective without committing himself definitively.

The speculation surrounding Verstappen is likely to accompany Formula 1 for months to come. His contract at Red Bull runs until the end of 2028, and any change in the sporting situation at the Austrian-British team could reshuffle the cards. Wolff has in any case made it clear that Mercedes is ready for that scenario and would lose neither the courage nor the financial or sporting interest to make such a move.