It’s not official yet, but Roberto Chinchero has removed all doubts: “Toto Wolff made it very clear.”
Speaking on Sky, Chinchero confirmed that Andrea Kimi Antonelli will remain with Mercedes in 2026, putting to rest rumors of a possible demotion for the young Italian talent.
Here’s what Chinchero said: “Yesterday Toto Wolff confirmed that Kimi Antonelli will be part of this team next year. We’ll see Antonelli’s name in that seat again in twelve months, hopefully with a more competitive car. It’s normal to hear rumors when things don’t go as expected, but we have total faith in Kimi and we’ll continue forward with him.”
“Russell is getting his revenge after the period when Mercedes courted Verstappen and left him in standby. Now it’s Mercedes asking him to sign, but he’s taking his time to secure better conditions, both financially and in terms of PR commitments. The fewer you have, the better: top drivers always keep them limited.”
“Franco Colapinto remains the most uncertain case, especially after yesterday’s crash: “We saw that seat end up in the wall, and that’s not what Colapinto needs. The team isn’t rushing, but the situation doesn’t help him.”
“Leonardo Fornaroli could follow a path similar to Oscar Piastri’s post-F2 title, with a possible third driver role: “The key is to secure a seat that allows private testing and early F1 mileage, a fundamental step.”
