Mercedes boss Toto Wolff defends ordering Russell to give up 2nd place to Antonelli
Wolff said the swap protected Mercedes from losing time and points, with Antonelli on fresher tires and Russell still ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
- At the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday, August 23, 2026, Mercedes ordered George Russell to let teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli pass for second place behind race winner Lando Norris.
- Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff defended the decision, arguing that fighting would have wasted time and risked losing positions to pursuing Ferrari drivers while maximizing championship points.
- Although Russell initially questioned the order over team radio, he later accepted the decision, stating that Antonelli "deserved to finish ahead" due to fresher tires while holding off Lewis Hamilton for third.
- This result leaves the teammates separated by 53 points in the championship standings, with Antonelli, who turns 20 on Tuesday, holding the advantage as the season enters its second half.
- Antonelli will face a grid penalty at the Italian Grand Prix in two weeks as Mercedes plans to swap his car's power unit to address potential reliability concerns heading into the season's final stretch.
46 Articles
46 Articles
Toto Wolff Defends Mercedes Team Orders After Russell’s Grumble At Zandvoort
[Image: Wiki Commons] Lando Norris didn’t need any help from team orders to win the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday, but Mercedes, on the other hand, decided theirs needed a little bit of a nudge. The Zandvoort weekend delivered its usual chaos early. Rain in the build up left the grid guessing about tyre choice up to the last minute, and the race barely survived one lap before Max Verstappen ran his Red Bull into the wall at the final corner, forcin…
Toto Wolff makes feelings clear after George Russell and Kimi Antonelli controversy at Dutch Grand Prix
Toto Wolff has defended Mercedes' controversial decision to order George Russell aside for Kimi Antonelli at the Dutch Grand Prix, insisting there was nothing difficult about making the call.Russell was instructed to surrender second place to his team-mate during the closing stages at Zandvoort, despite the move potentially putting his own podium finish at risk.Antonelli had been running behind race winner Lando Norris when Mercedes took advanta…
Dutch GP — Mercedes boss Wolff defends decision to ask Russell to make way for Antonelli
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff defended the use of team orders in the Formula 1 title fight after George Russell protested when he was asked to give up second place in the Dutch Grand Prix to teammate Kimi Antonelli.
Associated Press News
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff defends ordering Russell to give up 2nd place to Antonelli
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has defended the use of team orders in the Formula 1 title fight after George Russell protested when he was asked to give up second place in the Dutch Grand Prix to teammate Kimi Antonelli.
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