Mercedes pair address the fading rumors surrounding Verstappen.

      "There’s no contract currently under consideration."

      George Russell and Kimi Antonelli spoke about their contract situations on Thursday at Spa, both expressing confidence in staying with Mercedes for the 2026 season, despite prior rumors linking the seat to Max Verstappen. "That’s the million-dollar question," Antonelli said with a smile when asked about his future beyond this season. "Honestly, I’ve never been worried. I'm aware of the situation. Toto has been clear lately, which is reassuring.

      "The team is performing well. George and I collaborate effectively. There’s a great atmosphere, and the factory is pushing hard - not just for this year, but for the next as well. I feel quite confident in my position." Russell, who has yet to finalize a deal for 2026, shared this feeling but acknowledged he had hoped for more clarity by this point.

      "The plan was always to have this sorted out before the summer break... but there’s no contract available right now, so it’s unlikely we’ll reach a conclusion in the next two weeks," he stated. Nevertheless, the Briton reassured that he isn't troubled. "It doesn’t affect me at all. I don’t lose sleep over it... Mercedes manages me, so ultimately they control my future. I'm performing well, leading in points, and I believe they want me as much as I want to stay."

      Russell further mentioned, "There are no talks with other racing teams. I think my results speak volumes... With all due humility, I don’t believe there are many drivers who could perform better here than I do."

      These driver comments followed statements made earlier this week by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to Austrian broadcaster ORF: "Our goal is to continue with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. That remains our priority. I don’t anticipate any major surprises here." This marked a significant change in tone following weeks of interest in Max Verstappen. Wolff had even jokingly acknowledged that he couldn’t deny having met with the Red Bull star in Sardinia before the Belgian GP, saying: "People are creating photo collages with airplanes - we’ve never experienced anything like this before."

      Antonelli, who has experienced a mixed rookie season, admitted the transition to F1 has been steep. "It’s been challenging... with some mistakes and a few issues. My qualifying performance has been somewhat lacking," he noted. "However, I've learned a lot, and the second half of the season is crucial for me to make progress and achieve more consistency."