Kimi Antonelli finished the Dutch Grand Prix of Formula 1 in second place, after receiving an order from Mercedes to overtake George Russell. The team explained that the decision had already been discussed before the race and was not related to the drivers’ classification.
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The situation happened after the Virtual Safety Car period, when Antonelli was on a different strategy and was behind Russell. Since the Brit could not make a stop without losing positions to the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Mercedes decided to clear the way for the Italian.
The deputy team principal, Bradley Lord, stated that Russell initially questioned the instruction but understood the reason for the decision. According to him, the matter had already been discussed in the strategic meeting held on Sunday morning.
“We had already made it very clear in the Sunday strategy meeting that the pack was very close for our drivers to waste time fighting each other. That discussion served as the basis for the decision,” Lord explained.
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The manager also made it clear that he would have taken the same attitude if the drivers’ positions were reversed: “The priority was to give the car in second the best chance to attack, while giving the car in third clear air and the best opportunity to defend its position,” Lord added.
Andrew Shovlin, track engineering director, also explained why Antonelli did not stay ahead of Russell to offer his teammate the overtaking mode. According to him, the gain would be about two tenths per lap, but there was a risk that an unpracticed situation could end in contact between the cars.
Shovlin assessed that it was safer to put Antonelli ahead and allow Russell to have a clear track to defend his position. The Brit finished third, holding off Lewis Hamilton’s attack, a performance the engineer described as ‘extremely impressive’.
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