Mercedes had hoped to lure Max Verstappen away from Crimson Bull however now seems set to increase the contracts of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli for the 2026 season and past
Kimi Antonelli insists he has “by no means” been nervous about his System 1 future regardless of hitting a tough patch in his debut season. {The teenager} was fast-tracked into the game by Mercedes and made a robust begin, however has endured a nightmare European leg of the marketing campaign to this point.
The 18-year-old has scored factors in simply one of many final seven races, and the one certainly one of them which was not held in Europe. Much more curiously, that one outlier was his finest end in F1 thus far, his first podium secured by ending third on the Canadian Grand Prix in June.
However a mixture of mechanical unreliability and struggles to get the perfect out of a Mercedes automotive which has regressed with its updates has made life powerful for Antonelli. And the younger Italian has additionally admitted that he’s affected by a disaster of confidence because of this.
Antonelli, like team-mate George Russell, is out of contract on the finish of this yr because it stands. It has been understood for a while, although, that an extension is a mere formality because the Silver Arrows view their younger racer as a famous person of the longer term.
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And the younger man himself offers the air of somebody who, regardless of this tough interval, has been utterly reassured by workforce principal Toto Wolff about his place with the workforce and within the sport. “I’ve by no means been nervous, to be sincere. I do know the scenario, I do know what the workforce needs, particularly trying on the future,” he stated.
“So I feel additionally Toto has been clear not too long ago, in order that’s clearly good to see. However, I feel the workforce is working properly. The road-up is sweet. Me and George are working properly collectively, and we try to work collectively additionally as a workforce to search out efficiency.
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“So, I feel we’re doing a fairly good job. And likewise there is a actually good environment within the workforce. It is at all times good to return to the manufacturing unit and see how a lot the workforce is pushing, not just for this yr, but in addition forward of subsequent yr.
“So, this implies above that there is a good dynamic within the workforce. And yeah, however I am positive the workforce is aware of what’s the perfect for us, particularly subsequent yr.”
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Russell can also be closing in on a brand new deal, after months of his future being in some doubt. The Brit has starred this yr however was nonetheless the almost definitely Mercedes driver of the 2 to be proven the door if the Silver Arrows had managed to persuade Max Verstappen to hitch them for 2026, which the Dutchman has now confirmed is just not going to occur.
Not solely is he set to safe his future, however Russell can also be about to change into one of many highest-paid drivers on the F1 grid. It has been reported that he’s more likely to earn £30million per yr after penning contemporary phrases, excess of the £20m title contenders Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri every earn at McLaren, however nonetheless considerably lower than the £50m and extra every pulled in by Crimson Bull talisman Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari.
