Mercedes are second in the constructors' championship this season with seven races to go
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff said in the statement that announced George Russell and Kimi Antonelli would be staying with the team in 2026 that "confirming our driver line-up was always just a matter of when, not if".
Yet for some time this season there very much was doubt about who would be driving for the former champions next season.
The spectre of Max Verstappen has hung heavily over both Mercedes drivers for a fair portion of this season - and Russell more so than Antonelli.
Wolff said at the Australian Grand Prix at the start of the season that a move for Verstappen was "not on any radar".
