Andrea Kimi Antonelli has commended teammate George Russell for his actions during the closing stages of the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. Antonelli described Russell as a ‘great team player’ following Mercedes’ strategic decision to implement team orders at Zandvoort. The Italian secured second place, with Russell finishing third, ensuring a double podium for the Mercedes team.
During the race, a late Virtual Safety Car period prompted Mercedes to pit Antonelli for fresh soft tyres. This dropped him behind Russell, who was running on older hard compound tyres. Mercedes then instructed Russell to allow Antonelli to pass, a move designed to maximise points for the championship leader.
Russell complied with the team order, despite initially questioning the call over team radio. He subsequently held off a late charge from Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to secure his third-place finish. Russell later stated that Antonelli ‘deserved to finish ahead’ given his fresher tyres and overall pace.
Antonelli acknowledged the team’s strategy and Russell’s cooperation. He admitted to struggling with confidence in the W17 car during the Dutch Grand Prix, particularly on the hard tyre compound. Antonelli credited his strong starts for salvaging his race performance.
‘It was an intense race. I took the lead early on and the pace was good in the first stint,’ Antonelli recalled. ‘But after changing tires, the car lost grip, it was sliding around in the corners, and Lando passed me. After that, I had no further chances.’
The result at Zandvoort extended Antonelli’s lead in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship. He now holds a 59-point advantage over Russell, who is tied with Hamilton on 183 points but sits second due to a higher win count. Mercedes maintains a commanding lead in the Constructors’ Championship.
Russell’s podium finish at the Dutch Grand Prix marked an improvement in his recent form. He had previously faced performance issues linked to a Mercedes power unit problem, which was identified ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Russell expressed relief at understanding the root cause of his earlier struggles.
Antonelli also noted that Mercedes is ‘clearly not the fastest car’ on the grid anymore, highlighting McLaren’s significant step forward with recent upgrade packages. He stressed the need for Mercedes to continue pushing development to counter their rivals’ pace.
