WILL MERCEDES STOP ITS DRIVERS FIGHTING NOW WITH LEWIS HAMILTON CHASING?

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is considering implementing team orders for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, as Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari emerge as serious championship contenders in the 2026 F1 season. Despite a dominant start, Mercedes saw Hamilton win in Barcelona, shrinking Antonelli’s lead. Wolff believes Antonelli could have won the Spanish Grand Prix, but lost valuable time – an estimated five to six seconds – battling Russell, allowing Hamilton to pull away.

Wolff noted Hamilton is now just 41 points behind Antonelli, and nine ahead of Russell, crediting Ferrari's improved form. He called for an "interesting discussion" within the team about letting drivers race freely when a victory is at stake, especially with Hamilton's "smells blood" reputation. Former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg agrees, arguing Mercedes was too lenient with Russell in Barcelona. Rosberg stated teams should prioritize a potential win, even if it means ordering a driver aside, as he experienced with Hamilton in 2016. Mercedes now faces a critical decision to protect its championship bid.