The saga linking Max Verstappen to Mercedes appears to be drawing to a definitive close.
According to a report from German newspaper BILD, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff is now ready to concede defeat in his highly publicised pursuit of the four-time world champion.
Instead, the Brackley-based squad is reportedly poised to announce new contracts for both its current drivers, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, "shortly."
For months, the Formula 1 paddock has been buzzing with speculation surrounding Verstappen's future.
Despite being under contract with Red Bull until 2028, performance clauses and ongoing internal power struggles within the Milton Keynes outfit fuelled rumours of a sensational switch to Mercedes, especially after Lewis Hamilton's decision to join Ferrari for 2025.
Wolff himself had publicly courted Verstappen, leaving the door open to a potential blockbuster pairing with Russell.
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However, BILD's report suggests a decisive shift in strategy from the Mercedes camp.
The realisation that prying Verstappen from Red Bull, particularly with his performance clauses now reportedly nullified given his current championship position (he is currently 3rd in the standings, behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris), has proven too complex or costly appears to have set in.
Instead, Mercedes will reportedly confirm extensions for their existing line-up.
Both Russell and rookie sensation Antonelli are currently in the final year of their contracts (expiring at the end of 2025).
Wolff has consistently expressed his happiness with their performance, recently stating that continuing with Russell and Antonelli for 2026 is the team's "absolute priority."
Russell, 27, has matured into a consistent points scorer and race winner, securing five podiums and a victory in the Canadian Grand Prix this season.
Antonelli, the 18-year-old Italian prodigy, has made steady progress in his debut F1 season, even clinching a maiden podium in Montreal.
Mercedes has long championed Antonelli as a future star, meticulously preparing him through their junior ranks.
The expected announcement, which could come as early as this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix or around the upcoming summer break, will bring much-needed clarity to the driver market.
It signals Mercedes' firm commitment to its current talent pool and its belief that Russell and Antonelli are the duo to lead them into the new 2026 regulations era.
While the dream of pairing Verstappen with Russell may now be over for Toto Wolff, the future of the Silver Arrows appears to be firmly in the hands of its promising young guns.
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