Mercedes says its late team-order decision at Zandvoort was made to protect George Russell from Ferrari and help secure his third-place finish.

Mercedes has explained the thinking behind its team orders at the Dutch Grand Prix, revealing that asking George Russell to let Andrea Kimi Antonelli through was primarily designed to protect Russell’s podium finish.

The instruction came late in the race after Antonelli stopped for fresh tires during a Virtual Safety Car. Russell stayed out and temporarily moved ahead of his teammate.

Mercedes wanted to protect Russell

The key moment came after the Virtual Safety Car on lap 55.

Ferrari took advantage of the neutralization to pit both cars for fresh tires, while Mercedes brought Antonelli into the pits one lap later.

George Russell was asked to let Andrea Kimi Antonelli through during the closing stages at Zandvoort.

Antonelli rejoined behind Russell, but he had a major tire advantage.

Mercedes could have allowed the two drivers to fight, but the team feared that would cost Russell valuable time and expose him to the Ferraris behind.

According to track engineering director Andrew Shovlin, the objective was therefore not simply to give Antonelli his position back.

It was to save Russell time and improve his chances of defending third place.

Why Antonelli had to pass

Antonelli had enough grip to attack Russell on his newer tires.

Mercedes believed that allowing an internal battle would create unnecessary risk.

Antonelli’s fresher tires gave him the pace to attack Russell in the closing stages.

Every second Russell lost while defending against his teammate would have given Ferrari more opportunities to close the gap.

Mercedes therefore ordered Russell to move aside on lap 65, allowing Antonelli to continue ahead.

Russell accepted the decision after the race, acknowledging that Antonelli could probably have passed him anyway.

Russell then had to defend from Hamilton

Once the positions were switched, Russell faced another challenge.

Lewis Hamilton was closing rapidly from behind and eventually challenged for the final podium position.

Russell defended third place from Lewis Hamilton after Mercedes swapped positions between its two drivers.

Russell managed to hold Hamilton behind and finished third, just 0.8 seconds ahead of the Ferrari driver.

Charles Leclerc crossed the line in fifth, another 0.5 seconds behind Hamilton.

Shovlin praised Russell’s defense, particularly because Mercedes did not have the fastest car during the race.

Mercedes believes the strategy worked

The result gave Mercedes a double podium, with Antonelli second and Russell third behind Lando Norris.

Shovlin said Russell’s defense was one of the highlights of the race and praised him for completing a strong weekend that included pole and victory in the Sprint.

Russell had also made clear that he never intended to ignore the team’s instruction.

Mercedes has a standing rule that its drivers should not fight when they are running different strategies, with positions exchanged when necessary.

For Mercedes team orders, Zandvoort provided a clear example of that policy. The decision to move Russell aside was not simply about prioritizing Antonelli; Mercedes believed it gave Russell the best possible chance of keeping the podium.

Russell ultimately finished third, while Antonelli remained second in the championship fight.

Ferrari has completed its new ADUO2 power units, but the team will make the final decision on their Monza debut after completing the last reliability checks.

Ferrari has two new ADUO2 power units ready for use. However, the team has not yet confirmed whether they will make their debut at the Italian Grand Prix.

The engines have been completed for several weeks. Ferrari is still waiting for the final validation before sending them to Monza.

Ferrari must complete the final reliability checks

The updated 067/6 power unit has to pass a demanding durability program.

Under the current rules, an engine must complete the equivalent of at least six races on the test bench without a reliability failure.

The summer shutdown at Maranello also extended the validation process.

Ferrari’s new ADUO2 power units are ready, but final reliability checks will determine whether they race at Monza.

Ferrari has 21 test cells available for engine development. Budget restrictions, however, limit how many dynamometers can be used at the same time.

That makes the process slower.

A single reliability problem can also force engineers to restart part of the approval process.

Ferrari therefore does not want to rush the decision.

The new engine could add around 15 horsepower

The biggest attraction of the ADUO2 package is its potential performance gain.

The updated six-cylinder engine is expected to produce around 15 additional horsepower.

Ferrari has also revised the power curve to improve energy deployment around the lap.

The Ferrari ADUO2 upgrade could deliver around 15 extra horsepower and a revised power curve.

The update includes changes to the Garrett turbocharger and combustion chamber.

Ferrari has also worked with Shell on a new fuel specification approved for Monza.

The combination should improve combustion efficiency and hybrid-system recovery.

Most importantly, Ferrari hopes the package will reduce its power deficit to Mercedes.

Monza could become a key test

Monza is one of the best circuits for measuring engine performance.

The track places a heavy emphasis on straight-line speed and acceleration.

That makes the Italian GP an important benchmark for Ferrari and its new power unit.

Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could use the ADUO2 engine as Ferrari looks to close the gap to Mercedes.

Ferrari is not necessarily expecting to dominate the weekend.

Mercedes remains the benchmark on paper.

Ferrari’s main objective is to stay close enough to create a chance to fight for victory.

Kimi Antonelli will also receive a new Mercedes power unit at Monza. He is expected to start at least 20 places lower than his qualifying position because of his grid penalty.

That could create an opportunity for Ferrari.

Ferrari will also use its latest aerodynamic package

The Scuderia will combine the potential engine upgrade with the aerodynamic developments introduced at Zandvoort.

Those changes include revisions to the floor and diffuser.

Ferrari believes the package could work well with Monza’s low-downforce setup.

The team also believes the SF-26 may have carried slightly too much aerodynamic load at Zandvoort.

Energy management was another weakness.

Hamilton and Charles Leclerc qualified only fifth and sixth after struggling to maximize the available energy over a lap.

Monza will provide a much clearer test because there is no Sprint race.

Ferrari will have three free-practice sessions to optimize the engine, energy deployment, and aerodynamic setup.

For the Ferrari ADUO2 engine, Monza could become one of the most important weekends of the 2026 season.

If the new power unit delivers the expected gain and remains reliable, Ferrari could finally make significant progress against Mercedes.

Max Verstappen will start from the back of a 101-driver field at Silverstone on September 16, attempting to overtake 100 rivals in a unique karting race.

Max Verstappen is taking on one of the most unusual racing challenges of his career.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion will compete against 100 other drivers in a special karting event at Silverstone on September 16.

Dubbed “Max vs 100,” the race will feature a custom-built karting circuit and see Verstappen start at the very back of a 101-driver grid.

Verstappen Must Overtake 100 Rivals

The challenge is simple on paper but extremely difficult in practice.

Verstappen must work his way through the entire field before time runs out, making traffic management and overtaking the biggest challenges of the event.

Max Verstappen will start last in a 101-driver karting race at Silverstone.

The field will include Red Bull athletes, celebrities, content creators, and amateur racers.

Red Bull has already confirmed several participants, including ultramarathon runner Arda Saatçi, basketball player Chris Matthews, freestyle mountain biker Matt Jones, and streamers TheGrefg, Caedrel, and TheDonato.

The complete entry list has not yet been announced.

A Return to Verstappen’s Karting Roots

The event is particularly fitting for Verstappen because karting was where his racing career began.

The Dutchman started karting at just four years old and spent years competing before progressing through the junior categories and eventually reaching Formula 1.

Verstappen began racing karts at four and says the discipline taught him the fundamentals of racing.

Verstappen says karting teaches many of the fundamentals required in motorsport, including starts, defending, overtaking, and understanding available grip.

He also believes that his extensive experience in karting allows him to quickly rediscover the feeling of a kart whenever he returns to one.

A Custom Silverstone Circuit

The karting track has been specifically designed for the event by French driver and race director David Terrien.

Terrien has already tested the layout alongside two-time iRacing world champion Sebastian Job.

David Terrien designed the custom Silverstone karting circuit specifically for Verstappen’s 100-driver challenge.