No market surprises
With the Formula 1 grid preparing for the major regulatory overhaul in 2026, most teams have chosen stability over revolution when it comes to their driver line-ups. For next season, McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes (pending official confirmation), Williams, Aston Martin, Sauber – soon to become Audi – and Haas will all continue with the same pairings they currently field. The only real question marks are at Red Bull, where Yuki Tsunoda’s position looks increasingly shaky and could trigger a domino effect at Racing Bulls, and at Alpine, where Franco Colapinto’s seat is far from secure. Meanwhile, Cadillac is set to make its debut on the grid, relying on a tried and tested duo such as Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
The Verstappen flirtation with Mercedes
Despite the apparent calm on the driver market, there was a moment when Formula 1 could have experienced a seismic shift. This was linked to the never fully denied contacts between Mercedes and reigning world champion Max Verstappen. Such a move would have unleashed a classic domino effect, potentially pushing either George Russell or Andrea Kimi Antonelli onto the market in search of a seat for the 2026 season.
The report from Corriere dello Sport
The Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, through journalist Fulvio Solms, has now revealed an unexpected and fascinating behind-the-scenes story. According to the report, Toto Wolff carefully studied a scenario last spring without ever speaking publicly about it. The Mercedes team principal envisioned what he described as a unique alignment of circumstances: signing Max Verstappen away from Red Bull and at the same time preparing for the retirement of Lewis Hamilton at the end of the year. In this situation, Toto Wolff could have tried to secure Max Verstappen by placing Andrea Kimi Antonelli in Ferrari, thanks to his friendship with Scuderia boss Frédéric Vasseur. Such a deal would have left all parties satisfied – Mercedes would land Max Verstappen, Ferrari would gain a highly rated Italian youngster, and Antonelli would avoid internal competition with Russell.
The story, according to Fulvio Solms, eventually lost momentum as Lewis Hamilton decided to continue racing and Mercedes encountered some difficulties with the W16 project, which also created adaptation challenges for Antonelli. Yet, the report suggests that these talks and considerations will come to light sooner or later, highlighting just how delicate the balance of the driver market remains behind the scenes.
