Mercedes reveals clever tactic to deceive F1 rivals

Mercedes has revealed it uses "secret codes" in radio communication with its drivers to keep race strategies hidden from rivals. The tactic was key to Kimi Antonelli's Spanish Grand Prix victory, his eighth of the season, as the championship favourite.

Why it matters:

In F1, all teams listen to rival radio transmissions. With strategy decided mid-race, disguising intentions can be the difference between winning and losing.

The Details:

• At the Spanish GP, a VSC deployed after Lance Stroll's issue gave Antonelli a cheap pit stop, jumping race leader Norris.
• Andrew Shovlin said the team had prepared for all scenarios: "On Sunday morning, we focused on being ready to react to any incident."
• "Kimi knew he was inside the VSC window, and Bono confirmed the instruction as soon as the incident occurred."
• Shovlin said the codes are changed weekly: "We try not to let all the other teams know what those codes are, so we change them every single week."

Between the lines:

The deception is constant. Even though rivals listen to every transmission, coded messages keep them guessing. It's a subtle but vital part of modern race strategy.

What's next:

With the championship fight heating up, Mercedes' strategic edge could prove decisive in the closing rounds.