Mercedes insists it is "far too early" to prioritise Kimi Antonelli or George Russell in the 2026 Formula 1 world championship battle, despite the threat posed by Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari.
The Silver Arrows have been the dominant force at the start of this regulation cycle, winning eight of the opening 11 grands prix to establish a 72-point lead over Ferrari with 12 rounds remaining. Six of those victories have gone to Antonelli, who now sits 50 points ahead of Barcelona winner Hamilton and 59 clear of pre-season favourite Russell.
With Russell's title hopes hanging by a thread, there have been calls for Mercedes to back Antonelli to secure a maiden crown with minimal fuss. This echoes last year's situation at McLaren, where the team refused to choose between Oscar Piastri and eventual champion Lando Norris, partly allowing Max Verstappen to launch a late charge.
But Mercedes sees no reason to change its approach just yet, as it chases its first drivers' title since Hamilton's seventh in 2020 and a first constructors' crown since 2021.
Team First, Always
"If a Mercedes can win the race, a Mercedes must win the race," said deputy team principal Bradley Lord ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. "That's what comes first, the team comes first and the constructors' championship is the team's primary focus.
"We've seen the fight swing dramatically; at one point it was written that only one driver could win, then in three races it flipped completely. It's far too early to even think like that. We want to win both championships, and the best way is to get both cars to the finish as high as possible."
Although Mercedes was expected to challenge for its first constructors' title in five years, many anticipated Russell would lead the charge, not Antonelli. The 19-year-old has had an up-and-down season, yet now finds himself at the top of the standings.
With the principle of "if a Mercedes can win, a Mercedes must win" firmly in place, the team appears content to let both drivers race, as long as it doesn't compromise the bigger picture.
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