F1 | Kimi Antonelli reveals behind-the-scenes on Mercedes team order for George Russell in Mexico. Kimi Antonelli opened up about the surprise Mercedes team order during the Mexican GP.

The Mexican Grand Prix sparked some internal discussion within the Mercedes garage, particularly regarding the team order that saw Kimi Antonelli and George Russell swap positions in the closing stages of the race. While the strategic decision aligned with team logic, it left the young Italian driver with some questions.

After the race, Kimi Antonelli spoke calmly but candidly about how he experienced that moment, explaining that he was caught off guard by the radio communication. He said, “I didn’t know this was being requested over the radio, I just received the information from the team to perform the swap at Turn 4. Initially, it surprised me a bit, but I respect the decision. Of course, we will need to review it together to understand the reasons and move forward.”

Antonelli follows the team order but shares the behind-the-scenes detail

Antonelli then added insight into the tense moment when he had to execute the team order: “At the moment I had to let him pass, I lost rhythm and had to start defending against Oscar Piastri. It wasn’t the ideal situation and put us in a slightly disadvantageous position.”

Despite his disappointment with the situation, the young Italian demonstrated great composure and team spirit, highlighting how the incident could help improve internal team management. “I appreciate that the team later corrected the situation and returned my position,” Kimi Antonelli added.

He also reflected on the potential alternative outcome: “I believe that if we had kept our original positions, we might have had a real chance to challenge Oliver Bearman and finish P4 and P5. It’s easy to say now, but we will review everything to avoid making the same mistake.” This reflection underscores Kimi Antonelli’s personal and technical growth within the Brackley-based team, showing his ability to assess even the most delicate situations with balance.

For Mercedes, the episode highlights an important challenge: balancing overall team strategy with nurturing emerging talent like Kimi Antonelli, who is increasingly becoming a key presence alongside George Russell in the garage. Looking ahead to the Brazilian Grand Prix, the goal will be to learn from the Mexican experience to prevent similar scenarios and maximize the team’s overall results.