Mercedes was plagued with intra-team rivalries between the 2014 and 2016 seasons. After the new 2014 regulation cycle was introduced, the Silver Arrows were the fastest team on the grid. This led to their drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, battling for the championship. The rivalry spilt onto the track many times, with both drivers crashing into each other.
The 2026 season has seen Mercedes rise to the top once more, this time with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. They have raced each other fairly throughout the first half of the season, with Kimi heading his more experienced teammate by 59 points. However, that points tally is easily catchable in F1.
Team boss Toto Wolff has insisted that he won't let the Rosberg-Hamilton era return to the team. The Austrian has promised that he wouldn't hesitate to remove them from Brackley if they harmed the team.
Toto Wolff sets out ground rules at Mercedes
Having worked at Brackley from 2014 to 2016, Wolff has assured Mercedes that they won't see a repeat. Hamilton and Rosberg frequently clashed on track, costing each other points, and sometimes both. Max Verstappen's maiden win came after the Silver Arrows collided in Barcelona, forcing them both to retire.
Wolff refuses to see this returning to the German team. ↗︎Speaking exclusively to RacingNews 365, Wolff said, "I will not allow it. That's never going to happen to me again. That's never going to happen to the team again. Simple. I'm just taking a driver out if he does that."
| Kimi Antonelli (Ita) Mercedes 219 |
|---|
| Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Ferrari 169 |
| George Russell (GBR) Mercedes 160 |
| Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 138 |
| Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren 128 |
Russell and Antonelli have had many thrilling battles so far this season, including in Canada and Barcelona. However, the fights have largely been hard but fair racing, with the drivers not coming into contact bar a touch in the Canadian sprint. However, Russell might start getting desperate.
The Brit is now over two race wins behind his teammate, and has Lewis Hamilton in between them. Russell needs to start winning races and beat his rivals to get his hands on the championship for the first time in his career.
Toto Wolff backs George Russell to bounce back
George Russell has had a difficult spell. A host of reliability issues, especially engine issues, have hampered his progress in the championship fight. He failed to finish in Canada due to a battery issue. These issues have also plagued him in Belgium and Hungary, ruining his race starts and costing him vital points in the championship race.
However, the gap is only 59 points to Antonelli, and the Italian has also had his fair share of reliability issues. The W17 is very fast, but also very fragile, leading to more possible retirements. Russell is obviously frustrated with the car's problems, as it has hindered him more. His boss, however, backs him to bounce back.
Wolff continued: "If there is someone on the back foot that can manage that, it's George, because he's a hard guy. The best ones, they are able to turn things around. So I think he can, absolutely."
Mercedes will be under pressure to deliver a reliable car for both of their drivers for the remainder of the season. Others are catching up with the Silver Arrows, with McLaren looking imperious in Hungary. Lewis Hamilton is also Kimi Antonelli's closest rival in the standings. Pressure is on at Brackley, but will they stand firm, or wilt?
