Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has said the team would not shy away from a future lineup of Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli, while George Russell continues to struggle.
Wolff open to Verstappen-Antonelli pairing
In an interview with Sky Germany, Wolff admitted the team would have no concerns about fielding both drivers in the future.
"We wouldn't shy away from having Max and Kimi in the team together at some point," he said.
Wolff also praised the 19-year-old Italian's impact. "I think the lad is simply very good at taking on board and putting into practice the feedback he receives."
Antonelli's stunning first half
Antonelli has won six races this season, in China, Japan, Miami, Canada, Monaco and Belgium. That run has given him a 50-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings, with Mercedes sitting top of both championships.
The teenager is chasing the record for the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history.
Russell under pressure
While Antonelli has flourished, Russell has won just two races and finished seventh in Hungary last time out. The British driver's difficult spell could add weight to speculation that Verstappen might be targeted by Mercedes.
Verstappen's Red Bull contract reportedly includes an exit clause that would allow him to leave before its 2028 expiration. Whether he would ever line up alongside Antonelli remains unclear, particularly given the historic rivalry between the two teams.
Verstappen, 28, recently described Red Bull as "like a second family" while dismissing talk of a move.
"I am feeling good from my side. I'm saying that there is nothing to say because there is nothing going on," he said.
"So, for me, I'm just focused on trying to get the most out of the car. And, like I was explaining before, that's already complicated enough to deal with. Yeah, that's what I'm just doing.
"I mean, this team is like a second family to me, you know, and yeah, we're just trying to understand our car a bit better and, of course, get back to winning ways. But, I mean, we've been close on one weekend. I hope, of course, it's a little bit more often than just one weekend. But, like I said before, it's definitely on an upward trend. So that's good."
