Mercedes Faces Backlash Over Costly Team Decision at Mexico GP!
In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the Formula 1 community, Mercedes has openly admitted to a critical blunder during the Mexico City Grand Prix. The iconic team waited far too long to swap their drivers, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a decision that proved detrimental to their race strategy and ultimately cost them valuable points.
Throughout the race, Russell was visibly frustrated, repeatedly urging the pit wall to allow him to overtake Antonelli after their pit stops. He firmly believed that with clear air, he could catch up to competitor Oliver Bearman. However, in a display of indecisiveness, Mercedes delayed the crucial decision, and by the time they acted, Russell’s tires had overheated, leaving him vulnerable to a fierce challenge from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who swiftly overtook both drivers.
“It was a really tricky situation,” admitted Mercedes’ communications chief, Bradley Lord, in a candid post-race video. He elaborated, “We had Kimi driving in a way to manage his tyres, managing to a one-stop and doing exactly what was being asked of him. George was obviously under pressure from Piastri… closing that gap and then in the dirty air, using more of his tyres because of that and also feeling that he had pace to get past.”
As the situation unfolded, Mercedes finally decided to let Russell pass, but the damage was already done. By the time he got ahead, his tires were “past their best,” rendering him incapable of catching Bearman or fending off Piastri’s relentless pursuit. To add insult to injury, Antonelli, who was returned to his original position to finish ahead of Russell in sixth place, expressed his disappointment, lamenting that the team had “missed an opportunity to take fourth.”
Lord emphasized the harsh reality of the situation, stating, “It was very difficult to overtake in Mexico with the low downforce, very difficult with the dirty air phenomenon that seems more penalizing now than at any part of these rules since 2022. So it was a tricky situation and we probably didn’t get everything right in how we managed it.”
The overarching lesson from this race is painfully clear: Mercedes must be more decisive in their team orders. “The lesson is really that we should have been more decisive either in asking to hold position or swapping the positions rather than waiting the time we did,” Lord concluded.
This revelation raises serious questions about Mercedes’ decision-making process and their ability to capitalize on strategic opportunities. As the F1 season continues, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the team can bounce back from this significant misstep. Will they learn from their mistakes, or will this be just another chapter in a season of missed opportunities? The pressure is on for Mercedes to reclaim their glory, but for now, they must confront the reality of their costly error in Mexico.








