Russell Slams Mercedes Delay in Mexico GP Team Orders

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - George Russell believes his Mercedes team should have been more decisive in handling team orders during the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix. The British driver finished seventh after being held up by teammate Kimi Antonelli, who crossed the line sixth. This drama has sparked debate, with Russell urging the team to act immediately or not at all. This in-depth analysis unpacks the incident's timeline and its implications for the battle for second in the standings.

With about 30 laps remaining, Russell was in fifth, trailing Antonelli, who struggled to pass surprise contender Oliver Bearman of Haas in third. Behind Russell, Oscar Piastri from McLaren pressed hard for crucial championship points. Russell was confident of his pace to challenge Bearman if cleared by Antonelli and even offered to swap back if unsuccessful.

However, as Russell pushed his case, race engineer Marcus Dudley instructed him to cool his rear tires, prompting a heated, bleeped-out response on live broadcast by Formula One Management (FOM). On lap 41, Antonelli finally let Russell through, but a second round of pit stops thwarted the overtake on Bearman. True to the agreement, Antonelli regained the position to finish sixth, while Russell settled for seventh—the first time this season Antonelli has outfinished him in a grand prix.

The incident unfolded amid Lando Norris's dominant win, 30 seconds clear of Charles Leclerc, with Max Verstappen third and Bearman fourth.

Post-race, Russell stressed the team should have moved faster. “Ordinarily, we work as a team, and we’re in a fight for P2 in the championship, and I could see Kimi was struggling to get past Bearman,” he told media, including RacingNews365. “I was in his DRS train, so when my tyres were in a good place, I was ready to attack, and ultimately, we left it too long, and by that point, there was no need to swap positions. Either do it straight away or not at all.”

Pressed on his frustration with Dudley, Russell clarified, “Marcus, ultimately, is conveying a message. He’s not the one in that position making the decisions.” He added, “So we need to sit down and talk as a team. Ultimately, I’m not battling Kimi in a championship or a fight, we’re battling Ferrari and Red Bull for the [runner-up spot in the] championship, and we finished P6 and P7, and it could have worked out differently.”

This highlights Mercedes' focus on securing second from Ferrari and Red Bull, where extra podium points could prove vital.

The episode spotlighted Mercedes' struggles, finishing behind Piastri (fifth) and Bearman (fourth). In Antonelli's DRS slipstream, Russell felt a podium chance slipped away due to the delay. “We got a Ferrari and a Haas ahead, we can fight for the podium,” he radioed, adding, “I’m happy to give the position back to Kimi if I can’t overtake Bearman. We’re just compromising both our races. I’ve got much more pace here, guys.”

For Antonelli, sixth place marked a milestone as a rookie, but it raised questions on team dynamics. Meanwhile, Bearman's fourth for Haas showcased immense potential, while Piastri grabbed key points for

The Mexico City drama underscores Mercedes' internal challenges in balancing driver support while chasing P2. With Russell calling for team talks, Mercedes is expected to refine strategies for upcoming rounds. A more decisive approach, as Russell suggested, could boost points against rivals. The competitive 2025 season promises fierce battles ahead, with Mercedes poised to rebound if lessons from this incident are applied.