Antonelli has had a positive start to his F1 career and would be an excellent partner to Verstappen. Wolff will ensure Sunday’s chaos does not impact his efforts to sign the best driver on the track.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff issued a timeline for the team's driver lineup as George Russell's contract expires and Max Verstappen rumors swirl. Russell asserted himself as the team leader at Mercedes this season,

Toto Wolff has indicated when Mercedes will announce their 2026 contract decision, after the team principal confirmed talks with F1 champion Max Verstappen in Austria. Both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli’s deals expire at the end of this year, with the British driver’s contract in particular attracting questions at the Austrian Grand Prix.