Toto Wolff: here's how to manage both Mercedes driver rivalry
Managing the Mercedes internal rivalry
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is confident that his squad is well-equipped to manage the internal battle between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell as both drivers contend for the championship. Drawing on over a decade of experienceâmost notably the intense rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg from 2014 to 2016âWolff emphasizes that the teamâs philosophy remains clear: the organization always takes precedence over individual ambition.
"The oddity in Formula 1 is that the two team mates are also the biggest competitors," Wolff noted.* "We have learned a lot over the last 10 plus years in how to best handle these situations. But best handle means also letting them race and acknowledging the fact that they race."*
Wolff maintains that both drivers understand the weight of representing a brand with over 120 years of history. "The team is always bigger than the drivers," he stated.* "The moment the driver feels like this is all about him, that's not the mindset that we would ever allow. I would rather have only one car driving if that wasn't clear, but I think it will never come to that point because our drivers... are part of that mindset and this philosophical approach and the legacy that they represent."*
Antonelliâs impressive trajectory
The current season has seen Mercedes dominate, with Antonelli and Russell securing victories in all three Grands Prix. Antonelli, currently leading the championship by nine points, has capitalized on his opportunities, including a maiden win in China followed by a victory in Japan.
While Russell has faced challenges with unreliability and unfavorable Safety Car timing, Wolff is pleased with how the rookie has adapted. "Bearing in mind his age, and his relative lack of experience, it would take at least a season to find his feet and that's happening," Wolff said. "He's on the trajectory that we were hoping that he has."
Looking ahead, Wolff intends to maintain a transparent and authentic relationship with the young driver. "He doesn't need to justify anymore to us that he hasn't got the speed or hasn't got the ability or hasn't got the right character," Wolff explained. "Now it's just a matter of more experience and it's something that comes over time. Sometimes it's putting the arm around him and sometimes it's saying you need to improve in that area."
As the season progresses toward Miami, Mercedes holds a 45-point lead over Ferrari in the Teams' Championship, with the team focused on balancing competitive racing with their long-standing core values.
Simone Scanu
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.