George Russell has been warned by former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg that he could be axed by Toto Wolff as he spoke about the team principal’s character
George Russell has been put on notice ahead of a potential 2026 ‘shootout’ for his Mercedes drive with Kimi Antonelli.
For 2025, young prodigy Antonelli will team up with Russell, stepping into the big shoes that will left by Lewis Hamilton, who will leave for Ferrari at the end of the season. The Italian teenager was the frontrunner for the coveted spot after Hamilton shocked the F1 world with his decision to leave the team he has won six of his seven drivers’ titles.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff played the long game though, holding off on confirming Antonelli while chasing after reigning world champion Max Verstappen amid turmoil on and off the track at Red Bull, who have seen their pace advantage over the rest completely wiped out in 2024.
Talk of Verstappen joining Mercedes as early as next year has been quashed, but it could be a genuine possibility for 2026 when a new set of regulations could mix up the competitive order. Nico Rosberg, who beat Hamilton to the 2016 drivers’ crown in a Mercedes, reckons Wolff won’t accept defeat and give up on Verstappen, meaning the pressure will be on Russell to see off in Antonelli in 2025.
George Russell is not safe at all because Toto still wants Max and he will try again for 2026,” said Rosberg on Sky Sports. “‘Give up’ does not appear in Toto’s vocabulary.
“So if Max does become available and I do think it’s a possibility, then it is a shootout between George and Kimi next year. And it’s a lot of pressure on George because he has everything to lose.
