Despite confirmation that Kimi Antonelli will join Mercedes next year, there is still speculation about the team’s long-term driver lineup. Although Max Verstappen is unavailable for 2025, there are suggestions that Toto Wolff could renew his pursuit of the Dutchman in 2026. Looking to next year, Nico Rosberg believes George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will be fighting to keep their seats.
George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are “not safe”, argues Rosberg
Russell unphased by speculation
Having spent three years as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate, George Russell always insisted he would be unphased Hamilton’s replacement.
Before Kimi Antonelli was announced, the British driver was often asked about the prospect of facing Max Verstappen. While a 2025 Mercedes move was always a long shot for the Dutchman, Russell was still regularly probed about this scenario.
His response was generally consistent, emphasising that no driver could be an intimidating teammate after spending several years in the same machinery as Hamilton.
With Antonelli announced as Russell’s next teammate, talk of Verstappen joining the Silver Arrows will quieten down.
However, as the situation at Red Bull continues to worsen, the 3-time Champion is still seen as a potential Mercedes target for 2026.
Former Mercedes driver and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg shares this belief:
“George is not safe at all because Toto still wants Max,” he told Sky Sports.
“He will try again for 2026 because ‘give up’ does not appear in Toto’s vocabulary.
“If Max does become available – and I do think it’s a possibility – then it is a shootout between George and Kimi next year.
“It’s a lot of pressure on George as he has everything to lose. He should be the one ahead at the team internally, because Kimi is 18 and he’s completely new and in a full-pressure situation.
“So it’s not an easy situation for George.”
Mercedes focus on the short-term
On paper, next year’s driver market should be relatively inactive. Most teams will keep the same line-ups in 2025 and 2026, retaining continuity as they enter the new regulations.
However, as the last two years have shown, things can change quickly in Formula 1. For now, it is unlikely that Russell or Antonelli are at risk of losing their seats, at least in 2025.
Kimi Antonelli is a tremendous talent and is highly rated by Mercedes. Even if his initial results are below expectations, the team will undoubtedly work to improve his transition into F1.
Meanwhile, George Russell has proven himself to be a top-level driver since joining the Silver Arrows. His presence within the team, at least on paper, could persist for several years.
The only reason either driver’s status could be in doubt, ultimately, is because of Toto Wolff’s statements about Max Verstappen. Until just a few weeks ago, the Austrian team principal was unwavering in his belief that Verstappen could be persuaded to join Mercedes.
Because of this, it seems plausible that Wolff could try to sign Verstappen again in the future. Should this be the case, the dynamics at the Brackley-based team could be intriguing to observe.
