Wolff: We want to continue working with George and Kimi.

      Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, named continuing collaboration with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli as a priority for the next season. He stated this in an interview with the Austrian channel ORF, although Max Verstappen's name also came up in the context of plans for 2026.

      "Our preferred direction is to continue working with George and Kimi. This is our priority," Wolff assured. "Everyone is already aware of this situation. Although when it comes to a driver like Max, one cannot help but be interested in his plans for the future, I don't think there will be any major surprises here."

      In the same news segment where Wolff's words were voiced, ORF reminded that Verstappen's contract with Red Bull includes a termination clause, which could be triggered if, after the British Grand Prix, the Dutchman finds himself outside the top three in the championship standings.

      But Max, at the halfway point of the season, is in 3rd place, 69 points behind the leader, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, but 18 points ahead of Russell, who is in fourth.

      On social media this month, rumors were actively discussed that Wolff and Verstappen were in the same region near the island of Sardinia at the same time, which gave them an opportunity to hold negotiations, but Mercedes team principal commented on this as follows:

      "If, while on vacation, you happen to be not far from each other, that doesn't necessarily mean you're going to collaborate in Formula 1. We've always had good relations, and it has happened before that we vacationed in roughly the same place."