Mercedes commits to full blast for Russell’s runner-up chase

Mercedes will go "full blast" to help George Russell secure the runner-up spot in the 2026 Formula 1 world championship. A week after Andrea Kimi Antonelli clinched the drivers’ title in Mexico, the team wrapped up the constructors’ championship at a rain-affected Sao Paulo Grand Prix. That achievement came despite a scrappy race where both drivers failed to finish on the podium for the first time this season. Russell finished fourth and Antonelli fifth, marking a clear departure from their usual consistency. The result leaves Russell just one point clear of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton but 17 points behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with three races remaining.

Unexplained car issues complicate the chase

Mercedes is investigating why both cars went wrong in Brazil, as the team’s first race without a podium exposed serious mechanical doubts. Insiders believe a victory slipped away when the team was due to back Russell in his bid for P2. Both drivers lost pace on intermediates, with Antonelli reporting "strange behaviour" that made the car pull to one side under acceleration. Russell spun at the pit exit after switching from intermediates to slicks, touching the wall before continuing. Antonelli then spun at Turn 1 while leading the race. Wolff did not hide how unusual these problems were for two drivers known for stability. "George is not someone who spins in the pitlane on the exit, and Kimi the same," Wolff said. He added that both reported behavior like something broken in the suspension or too much pressure in the tyres.

Russell offered an early theory regarding tyre damage. "Maybe it’s a small theory because we were the first ones onto the inters, even just on that outlap on the driest track, you damage the tyres and the temps go up and you’re in this negative spiral." As of now, that is the only explanation the team has. The situation creates significant worry for Las Vegas, where conditions are expected to be even colder. If the problem was caused by cold, damaged tyres, it could return there. Team orders can only help Russell if Mercedes first gives him a car he can trust over a full race. So far this season, they have failed to do that, leaving the driver struggling when the W17 drops out of its operational window.

Data suggests the gap is closing

There is some good news for Russell, who said he felt much more like himself during the Brazilian weekend. "I’ve been working hard to get back to that level consistently and I’ve felt much more like myself here," he stated, though how much of that is PR-speak remains unknown. The numbers support his claim. This was the first race since Baku in which Russell beat Antonelli on pace. The close split in data on Antonelli suggests the gap between the two Mercedes drivers is closing just as the team considers giving Russell priority. Russell noted that his spin ironically prevented him from pitting for another set of slick tyres, putting him back in the same position as before the incident. "The most important [thing] is we got the championship sealed," he said.

Wolff emphasized the team’s commitment to helping Russell recover. "We absolutely want him to score the maximum and hopefully finish second, and we need to think about what we’re going to do about it, but it could be a possibility that we’re giving it all the force," he explained. He recalled how tough Russell had it at times, citing his dominant wet qualifying performance that was ruined by a last-lap error. "Now we have three races to go. We’re going to, like I said, go full blast, and he will recover, I have no doubt about that for next year." All very best sportspeople have gone through difficult periods, and that will be part of his continued development. The team owes it to Russell to cherish the moment after four tough years.