Wolff draws firm line as Mercedes brace for intra-team battle
Photo: Race Pictures
08:05, 24 Apr
3 Comments
Samson Ero is a Formula 1 editor at GPblog with seven years of experience in sports media. He covers key developments across the paddock, delivering accurate reporting and insight on drivers, teams, and performance trends, with work published on recognised platforms including Tuko and Legit.ng.
Toto Wolff has outlined what he describes as Mercedes’ clear internal “rules of racing” for its drivers, as both Kimi Antonelli and George Russell prepare to fight for the 2026 drivers’ championship.
The Mercedes team principal, keen to avoid a repeat of the tensions seen between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, has drawn a firm line as the team braces for a potentially intense intra-team battle.
Speaking to GPblog and selected media, the 54-year-old stressed that both Antonelli and Russell must first and foremost be allowed to race freely, without unnecessary interference. However, he also underlined that both drivers must remain aligned with the values of the Mercedes team.
“The oddity in Formula 1 is that the two teammates are also the biggest competitors. We have learned a lot over the last 10-plus years about how to best handle these situations. But best handling means also letting them race and acknowledging the fact that they race. There are certain values that we stand for in the team. The team is always bigger than the drivers. It is Mercedes, one of the most formidable brands in the world, the best car brand in the world,” Wolff explained.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Austrian motorsport chief went on to emphasise the scale of responsibility that comes with driving for Mercedes, even suggesting he would prefer running a single car rather than compromising those principles.
“We race for 150,000 people that work for us, a company that has existed for more than 100 years. The opportunity to race, to be one of the few selected racers for Mercedes, also comes with a responsibility for racing for Mercedes. And the moment a driver feels like this is all about him, that's not the mindset that we would ever allow, except in the team. And we've done that in the past, I would rather have only one car driving.”
Wolff, however, expressed confidence that such a scenario is unlikely, given both drivers’ long-standing ties to the Mercedes junior programme.
“But I think it will never come to that point because our drivers have been so long in the Mercedes family that they are part of that mindset and this philosophical approach and the legacy that they represent,” he concluded.
ADVERTISEMENT
Following three rounds of the 2026 campaign, it is Antonelli who leads the drivers’ standings by nine points ahead of Russell, following consecutive race victories in both the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix.
Marko backs Antonelli for title
Earlier, former Red Bull Racing advisor Helmut Marko sided with Antonelli in the title fight. The Austrian advisor highlighted the Italian driver’s pace as particularly impressive.
Marko, however, warned the European phase of the 2026 season could prove pivotal, considering Antonelli struggled at a similar stage of the season during his debut campaign.
ADVERTISEMENT
GPblog Paddock Update
Want to stay up to date with the latest events from the F1 paddock? GPblog’s Paddock Update is the place to be.
Follow and subscribe to our channels on Spotify and YouTube so you don’t miss a scoop as the actions and reactions continue across the Formula 1 scene.
Check out the latest episode of our Paddock Update here 👇
ADVERTISEMENT
Read also
Read more about:
latest news
Miami Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 01.05.26
Practice 1
04:00 PM
Sprint Qualification
08:30 PM
Saturday 02.05.26
Sprint Race
04:00 PM
Qualification
08:00 PM
Sunday 03.05.26
Race
08:00 PM
Friday 01.05.26
Practice 1
Fri 04:00 PM
Sprint Qualification
Fri 08:30 PM
Saturday 02.05.26
Sprint Race
Sat 04:00 PM
Qualification
Sat 08:00 PM
Sunday 03.05.26
Race
Sun 08:00 PM
Times are in your local timezone
Rumors
Popular on GPBlog
1
F1 LIVE: Red Bull and Ferrari step it up with significant RB22 and SF-26 upgrades
1376 times read
2
FIA shakes up Miami GP schedule with key session change
1106 times read
3
Formula E Gen4 wins over Max Verstappen after major step forward
684 times read
4
Zak Brown rips into F1 system amid growing team alliances
662 times read
F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 72 | |
2 | MercedesMER | 63 | |
3 | FerrariFER | 49 | |
4 | FerrariFER | 41 | |
5 | McLarenMCL | 25 | |
6 | McLarenMCL | 21 | |
7 | HaasHAA | 17 | |
8 | AlpineALP | 15 | |
9 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 12 | |
10 | Racing BullsRCB | 10 |
Loading
