Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff ripped his team's reliability after Kimi Antonelli's late retirement in Barcelona cost a crucial podium. Antonelli, running P2 after passing George Russell with just five laps remaining, suffered a mechanical issue, marking his first retirement of the season. This follows Russell's retirement from the lead in Canada and Lando Norris's power unit failure in Monaco, fueling concerns over Mercedes engine durability with reliability a hot topic ahead of the new 2026 regulations. Wolff declared it "just not good enough" for championship contention, emphasizing "to finish first, first you have to finish." Beyond the technical woes, Wolff also blamed Mercedes' lost victory on the intense intra-team battle between Antonelli and Russell. He believes their hard racing allowed Lewis Hamilton to gain significant time and secure the win, leveraging a Virtual Safety Car. Mercedes faces immediate challenges addressing both engine reliability and internal driver management.
Read the full story at formula1.com'NOT GOOD ENOUGH' – WOLFF CRITICAL OF MERCEDES' RELIABILITY
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff ripped his team's reliability after Kimi Antonelli's late retirement in Barcelona cost a crucial podium. Antonelli, running P2 after passing George Russell with just five laps remaining, suffered a mechanical issue, marking his first retirement of the season. This follows Russell's retirement from the lead in Canada and Lando Norris's power unit failure in Monaco, fueling concerns over Mercedes engine durability with reliability a hot topic ahead of the new 2026 regulations. Wolff declared it "just not good enough" for championship contention, emphasizing "to finish first, first you have to finish." Beyond the technical woes, Wolff also blamed Mercedes' lost victory on the intense intra-team battle between Antonelli and Russell. He believes their hard racing allowed Lewis Hamilton to gain significant time and secure the win, leveraging a Virtual Safety Car. Mercedes faces immediate challenges addressing both engine reliability and internal driver management.
