Setting the web alight for the second yr in a row, Max Verstappen and Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff have been noticed collectively on vacation in Sardinia. Whereas the assembly is prone to be a pleasant get-together, Wolff has confirmed elsewhere he’d welcome the Dutchman as Kimi Antonelli’s teammate. Our hosts Jim Kimberley and Ben Hunt talk about this and way more within the newest episode of GPblog’s F1 Paddock replace.
Equally to final season, Verstappen and Wolff’s assembly has despatched the F1 world into one thing of a frenzy, however can be unlikely to be right down to something different thana shared love of the Italian island. Final yr, amid a lot hypothesis concerning Mercedes’ pursuit of his companies for the 2026 season, Verstappen clarified: “I really like Sardinia, he loves Sardinia. I waved at him, we had lunch collectively and the youngsters performed collectively. Whenever you’re there, you discuss all the pieces besides Method 1. You may have many nice conversations with him and Susie [Wolff].”
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Wolff open to future Antonelli-Verstappen partnership
Photograph: Race Photos
Nevertheless, in a current interview with Sky Sports activities Germany, Mercedes boss Wolff has nonetheless raised eyebrows by not ruling out having Antonelli and Verstappen on the group collectively throughout the longer term. He mentioned: “It’s important to give Kimi time to develop. Max is driving at his peak. He can do all the pieces. The 2 respect one another. They’re from totally different generations. However having each of them in a single group is, after all, a totally totally different start line.”
“Nevertheless it’s not like I am afraid of it, I had it worse with Rosberg and Hamilton. I would most likely deal with it higher in the present day. We’re not afraid of getting the 2 of them in the identical group sooner or later.”
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The Austrian did, nevertheless, reiterate Mercedes’ dedication to the present driver line up of Antonelli and George Russell, who at the moment sits P3 within the Drivers’ standings, 59 factors behind his championship main teammate. Wolff mentioned: “However within the present state of affairs, we’re proud of the dynamic between Kimi and George. We have made nice progress as a group. Including one other variable now would not be proper for our long-term improvement.”
However how would an Antonelli-Verstappen partnership take a look at Mercedes? Our hosts Jim and Ben have a look within the newest F1 Paddock Replace episode!
Photograph: Race Photos
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And although on-track motion has paused for F1’s summer season break, there’s nonetheless loads to debate with regard to the 2026 calendar, with the game’s CEO and President Stefano Domenicali confirming to GPblog, amongst others, that if F1 can’t journey to Qatar and Abu Dhabi for the ultimate two rounds of the season, the championship will as a substitute race in Europe.
Chatting with worldwide media, Domenicali acknowledged that the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix are at the moment set to go forward as deliberate, however acknowledged that because of the ongoing battle within the Center East, it stays unsure whether or not that can nonetheless be the case. He mentioned: “If the state of affairs won’t be clearer the best way that we consider it needs to be earlier than center of September, we are going to make the choice.
“In that case, the top of the season might be in Europe, as a result of we can’t go to different locations. So the season finale will finally be in Europe. There are some prospects on the desk, however I do not assume it is proper to make some guarantees or anticipate sure issues. That is the state of affairs as of now.”
What a European end to the 2026 F1 season would imply for the game is one other scorching subject of debate of the most recent F1 Paddock Replace episode, which you’ll be able to take heed to under!
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