Mercedes Prioritizes Constructors' Crown Over Antonelli's Championship Bid

Mercedes has ruled out favoring Kimi Antonelli in his 2026 title bid, with deputy team principal Bradley Lord insisting the constructors' championship remains the team's absolute priority. The stance reflects a deliberate effort to avoid the team orders controversy that plagued McLaren in 2025, though it carries the risk of letting a Ferrari driver capitalize on unchecked internal competition.

Why it matters:

Mercedes leads both championships, but Antonelli's advantage in the drivers' standings is far from secure. George Russell remains within striking distance, while Lewis Hamilton—now at Ferrari—sits second overall. If Mercedes allows its drivers to take points off each other, Hamilton could exploit the gap and steal the crown, echoing how Max Verstappen nearly snatched the 2025 title from McLaren despite the Woking team's superior machinery.

The details:

• Lord established a clear hierarchy: "If a Mercedes can win, a Mercedes must win. That comes first." The constructors' title is the stated primary objective, with any driver preference strictly secondary.
• Mercedes is determined to avoid McLaren's 2025 dilemma, where refusing to back Lando Norris over Oscar Piastri nearly cost the team the drivers' crown. Verstappen ultimately finished just two points behind the Briton.
• Lord argued it is "far too early" to implement team orders, noting how dramatically last year's fight swung in its closing races. Maximizing both cars' results takes precedence over bolstering one driver.
• Lord also admitted Mercedes has failed to get both cars to the finish in optimal positions at "every single race so far this year," making execution as critical as strategy.

What's next:

The Silver Arrows face a delicate balancing act as the season unfolds. If Antonelli and Russell keep trading blows, Hamilton and Ferrari stand ready to profit from every lost point. Mercedes believes its meritocratic approach offers the best shot at both titles, but the coming races will reveal whether that philosophy holds—or if the team must eventually pick a side to stop Maranello from seizing the crown.