ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) — Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says contract talks to keep George Russell for next year are “a formality,” even as the wait to confirm him for 2026 has prompted speculation about his Formula 1 future.

Mercedes has yet to announce its lineup for 2026, long after other teams, but it has been widely expected to stay with Russell and his rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli.

Russell himself previously linked the delay to Mercedes pursuing a move to sign Max Verstappen, who has since confirmed he’s staying with Red Bull.

“We clearly know what we expect from each other, what we want. It’s a formality,” Wolff said at the Dutch Grand Prix on Friday.

“But at the same time, it’s important to discuss even the slightest details” like “how can we extract the most perform

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