Russell explains why he followed Mercedes team orders in Zandvoort: “Antonelli deserved 2nd place”

Key takeaways

• Strict team protocol: George Russell clarified that Mercedes rules dictate drivers must swap positions without fighting on track when committed to contrasting pit strategies.
• VSC strategy shift: Andrea Kimi Antonelli pitted for softs under the Virtual Safety Car to cover Ferrari, while Russell stayed out on old hard tires, placing Russell ahead temporarily before team orders were issued.
• Championship standing: Russell agreed that Antonelli deserved the runner-up spot behind Lando Norris, leaving Russell tied for 2nd in the World Championship with Lewis Hamilton at 183 points.

George Russell explained why he ultimately yielded second place to Andrea Kimi Antonelli at the Dutch Grand Prix after protesting over the radio against Mercedes’ order. During a press conference attended by GRANDE PRÊMIO in Zandvoort, driver #63 stated that racing on track is not permitted when both drivers are on different strategies, which was the case on Sunday.

Antonelli took the lead of the race by overtaking Lando Norris on the second standing start, but lost significant pace during his second stint on hard tires and was easily passed by McLaren’s #1. Up to that point, Kimi and Russell were executing the same strategy.

It was when the Virtual Safety Car deployed for Esteban Ocon opened a window for Antonelli to ditch his hard tires and fit a set of softs, a move Ferrari mirrored with Lewis Hamilton. Russell remained on track in second place, ahead of Kimi. Mercedes then issued the command for the drivers to swap positions.

“As a team, we have always said that when we are on different strategies, we will never fight for position among ourselves and we will always invert the positions. Those have always been the rules,” Russell said.

“The fact is that Kimi was ahead of me before the VSC and tried something different to protect us as a team. He kind of copied Ferrari’s strategy. Could I have kept him behind me? Maybe. But that could have also resulted in a fifth-place finish,” he added.

“At the end of the day, he deserved second place. I think third was fair for me, it is a long season,” concluded Russell, who is now tied with Hamilton for second place in the standings with 183 points. Antonelli leads the Drivers’ World Championship with 242 points.

Formula 1 returns for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the 13th round of the 2026 season. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all track action live. Follow all updates on our news page.

World Championship Standings (Top 4 after Dutch GP)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. Why did Mercedes order George Russell to move aside for Antonelli?

Mercedes operates under a team rule where drivers on differing pit strategies are required to swap positions rather than risk time or damage battling each other on track.

2. How did Antonelli get behind Russell before the team order was given?

Antonelli pitted for soft tires under the Virtual Safety Car to cover Ferrari’s strategy, while Russell remained on track, temporarily gaining track position.

3. Where do George Russell and Kimi Antonelli stand in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship?

Kimi Antonelli leads the championship with 242 points, while George Russell sits tied for 2nd place with Lewis Hamilton on 183 points.