ANTONELLI REVEALS MERCEDES' INTRA-TEAM RULES IN AUSTRIA

Kimi Antonelli admits his Formula 1 title bid is "not going to be a walk in the park," especially with Mercedes instituting new intra-team rules for Austria. The young Italian, who leads the standings by 41 points despite retiring in Barcelona, confirmed the team will approach racing differently if under threat from rival teams. However, if it's solely Antonelli and George Russell battling, they remain "free to race."

This revised strategy follows a Barcelona race where wheel-to-wheel action between Antonelli and Russell allowed Lewis Hamilton to take a victory for Ferrari. With Hamilton now Antonelli’s closest championship challenger and Ferrari bringing a power unit upgrade, the pressure is mounting. Antonelli sees both Hamilton and Russell as significant threats, alongside potential reliability concerns. The new team orders signal Mercedes' intent to maximize championship points, a move that could dramatically alter the fight for the title.