Wolff suggests a brief arrangement for Russell while Antonelli faces difficulties.

      "We have not provided very long contracts in the past."

      George Russell appears inclined to accept only a brief contract extension with Mercedes, while Toto Wolff leaves the possibility open for Max Verstappen in 2027. Speculation about a standstill regarding contract duration has been circulating for weeks, with Russell wanting at least a two-year deal with an option, whereas Wolff is advocating for just another one-plus-one arrangement. "There won't be a significant announcement about his contract, as it makes sense that we will extend it," Wolff mentioned during the Monza event. Regarding the rumors, he continued: "We haven’t issued very long contracts historically and have preferred shorter ones. The longest we’ve provided is two years with an option. That’s a typical Mercedes approach. We had a one-plus-one agreement. That's our standard practice. Drivers experience substantial pressure, but if a driver claims they perform better on a two-year contract, that’s not the correct perspective."

      Kimi Antonelli is also in line for a renewal, but the young driver is under increasing scrutiny. A year after his FP1 debut at Monza, which ended in a high-speed crash, the Italian—seen as Lewis Hamilton’s successor—spun into the gravel again during Friday practice. Wolff conceded that Mercedes may have rushed the hype surrounding Antonelli. "He got into a Formula 1 car, completed a lap where everyone in the first two sectors called him a mini-Jesus, and then crashed into the wall," the Austrian reflected on Monza 2024. "Such things happen, but it was likely a miscalculation on our part. We may have encountered more frustrating moments than anticipated, but we are still dedicated to Kimi."

      Mercedes' communications chief, Bradley Lord, acknowledged that Antonelli's confidence faltered earlier this season. "Unfortunately, with the modified rear suspension, he definitely lost trust and confidence in the car. Naturally, rebuilding that trust will take time," he told Sky Deutschland. "The potential is there; we’re observing some very strong performances. However, currently, we are struggling to bring it all together." Former F1 driver Timo Glock concurs that Antonelli is now facing his most significant challenge. "There's no need to debate his ability to drive," he stated at Monza. "But there’s more involved. He needs to learn how to handle all the distractions. He must now find a way to emerge from this downturn."