Mercedes praises “solid” Russell after Dutch GP Sprint pole, reveals Antonelli floor damage

Key takeaways

• Russell bounces back: Toto Wolff praised George Russell’s “solid” performance to secure Sprint pole in Zandvoort, lightheartedly crediting his recent engagement during the summer break.
• Antonelli floor damage: Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli suffered floor damage after an early mistake in SQ1, which cost him downforce before the Mercedes crew repaired it.
• Marginal gaps: Wolff noted that small setup and driving errors were heavily punished around the tight Zandvoort circuit, leaving Antonelli fifth on the Sprint grid.

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff praised George Russell’s performance following Friday’s Sprint Qualifying at Circuit Zandvoort, where the British driver edged Lando Norris to claim pole position for Saturday’s Sprint race. Wolff also addressed Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s session, revealing that the Championship leader struggled after damaging his floor early in SQ1.

Russell set a benchmark time of 1:11.567 to claim top spot, bouncing back strongly following power unit component updates introduced earlier in the day. Speaking to Sky Sports, Wolff lightheartedly referenced Russell’s recent summer break engagement to Carmen Montero Mundt.

“George is coming back. I think he feels like a massive weight has been lifted off his shoulders after she accepted his marriage proposal,” Wolff said. “He did a solid job throughout the day, put all the pieces together, and delivered a very good lap.”

Toto Wolff highlighted Russell’s solid execution in Zandvoort (Photo: Mercedes-AMG F1)

Turning to Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who ended SQ3 in fifth place after leading FP1, Wolff explained that an error at Turn 13 during SQ1 compromised the Italian’s session.

“Kimi lost 20 points [of downforce] due to a hole in the floor, but we managed to repair it, and afterward it seemed to be completely intact. The margins are so fine here, and he made a small mistake at Turn 11 by pushing too hard on entry, which can quickly cost you positions,” Wolff explained.

Formula 1 action continues at Zandvoort with Saturday’s Sprint race followed by main Qualifying for the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix. GRANDE PRÊMIO covers all track activities live from Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev. Follow all paddock updates on our news page.

Session schedule: Dutch Grand Prix 2026

Broadcast guide: Where to watch in the United States

• United States (Eastern Time / ET)
  • Broadcaster: Apple TV
  • Sprint Race: Saturday, August 22 – 06:00 ET
  • Qualifying: Saturday, August 22 – 10:00 ET
  • Race: Sunday, August 23 – 09:00 ET

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. What caused Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s drop in pace during Sprint Qualifying?

Antonelli ran wide at Turn 13 in SQ1, causing floor damage that led to an immediate loss of roughly 20 downforce points before Mercedes repaired the component.

2. Who won pole position for the Dutch GP Sprint race?

George Russell took Sprint pole for Mercedes, beating McLaren’s Lando Norris by 0.041s.

3. Did Mercedes introduce any new engine parts in Zandvoort?

Yes, Mercedes introduced a fourth new exhaust system on Russell’s car, bringing him to his seasonal limit before triggering grid penalties.