Antonelli: Mercedes will 'race differently' when rivals are close

Kimi Antonelli says Mercedes will change how he and George Russell race each other when rivals are near, conceding that unrestricted internal battles are a luxury the team can no longer afford. The comments follow Toto Wolff's admission that letting his drivers fight freely in Barcelona likely cost Mercedes victory while Lewis Hamilton pounced under the Virtual Safety Car.

Why it matters:

Mercedes has dominated 2026 but its 41-point championship lead is shrinking. With Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren closing the gap, the Silver Arrows must balance driver fairness with ruthless team tactics. How Wolff manages his chargers could decide whether Antonelli maintains his advantage or watches it slip away.

The details:

• Antonelli's 41-point lead was cut after an electrical issue forced his retirement three laps from the end in Barcelona, ending a five-race winning streak.
• That DNF handed Hamilton his first Ferrari win and exposed Mercedes' flaw; Antonelli and Russell lost time battling while Hamilton gained track position during the VSC.
• Wolff admitted the team's "fair" approach "maybe cost us the win," prompting talks before Austria.
• Antonelli confirmed a conditional approach: "If we are under threat by other teams then we will race differently, but if it's just me and him we are going to be able to race free."
• The Italian expects a tight Austrian weekend, citing Ferrari's new engine, Red Bull's major upgrade, and McLaren's pace since Miami.

What's next:

The Red Bull Ring will test whether Mercedes' revised protocols can hold off a resurgent front pack. Antonelli stressed maximizing every point is critical with Hamilton finding form, Russell staying quick, and Mercedes suffering two technical DNFs in three races. If the team cannot solve its reliability issues, Antonelli's cushion could vanish quickly.