Mercedes boss insists team comes first, but Russell–Antonelli duel adds intrigue

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 drivers George Russell (left) and Kimi Antonelli during a press conference held by Petronas and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team at the Petronas Twin Towers today. — Bernama pic

First Published: Wednesday, 30 Sep 2026 7:26 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One (F1) team principal Toto Wolff said both team drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will continue to be given equal opportunities in their championship battle, despite the narrowing gap between the two drivers.

Wolff said Russell’s recent haul of big points has brought him closer to Antonelli, prompting the team to pay greater attention to how both cars are managed, particularly when making strategic calls during races.

However, he stressed that Mercedes’ long-standing philosophy remains unchanged, with the interests of the team taking precedence while allowing both drivers a fair shot at the championship.

“From the overarching philosophical standpoint, no, because we want to give both drivers equal opportunities to go for a championship. But the team comes first. 

“That has always been the Mercedes philosophy, and both of the drivers have always been superb team players,” he said during press conference here today.

Wolff acknowledged that Russell’s progress in closing the gap to Antonelli would add another layer of consideration to Mercedes decision-making as the season approaches its decisive stages.

“With George (Russell) scoring big points, obviously he’s narrowed down the gap to Kimi, and that means we have to properly evaluate the calls that we make on track, of how we manage the cars,” he said.

Russell heads into this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix on the back of victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, a result that saw him further reduce Antonelli’s advantage in the championship standings.

The Briton currently has 236 points, 66 points behind championship leader Antonelli, who has 306. — Bernama