Toto Wolff has reportedly made a decision on which driver Max Verstappen will replace at Mercedes.
Over the last few weeks, Verstappen has been heavily linked with a move away from Red Bull.
The Dutchman has won four Formula 1 world titles in a row, but his long reign looks to be coming to an end in 2025.
Currently, Verstappen is third with 165 points, 61 off Lando Norris and 69 adrift of Oscar Piastri.
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As a result of Red Bull's struggles and the shock sacking of Christian Horner as team boss and CEO, Verstappen's future remains up in the air.
Prior to last month's Austrian Grand Prix, Mercedes team boss Wolff declared his interest in signing Verstappen.
He told Sky Sports: "As a team principal responsible for the best car brand in the world, it's clear that you're exploring what a four-time world champion is going to do in the future. And that could be long into the future. But it has no effect on us putting a signature on George's contract."
Since then, many fans have wondered who Verstappen could partner at the Brackley-based team, with one of George Russell or Kimi Antonelli set to be dropped.
Now, as claimed by Italian news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, via Motorsport Week, Antonelli could be the one making way for Verstappen.
It has been suggested that Mercedes are trying to find the teenager a 'temporary home', with Alpine picked out as a potential option.
From 2026, Alpine will be a Mercedes customer team, and it has been claimed that Wolff was recently seen chatting to Flavio Briatore (Alpine’s Executive Advisor).
During the Austrian Grand Prix weekend, Wolff was asked about the potential 'fireworks' between Verstappen and Russell.
The Mercedes team boss replied: "I can imagine every lineup. I had Rosberg and Hamilton fighting for a World Championship, so everything else afterwards is easy.
"There are pros and cons of having two drivers fighting each other hard and we’ve seen examples where that functions and other examples where it didn’t."
F1 will return at the end of July with the Belgian Grand Prix, taking place around the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps.
Topics: Mercedes, Max Verstappen, George Russell, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing
Marcus Chan