Mercedes considers team orders for Russell and Antonelli

Mercedes is evaluating the implementation of team orders to manage the competitive relationship between drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Team principal Toto Wolff cited concerns over track stability and performance following the recent Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. During the race, both drivers engaged in aggressive maneuvers, including an incident where Antonelli locked his brakes and narrowly avoided a collision with Russell's car. Wolff noted that this near-miss incident carried a significant risk of a double retirement for the team. Furthermore, the internal duel is reportedly slowing down both drivers, allowing rival competitors to close the gap on the track. While Mercedes has previously allowed the drivers to race freely, the team is currently analyzing race data to determine if stricter management is necessary. Future discussions between the team and the drivers will focus on avoiding excessively aggressive situations that compromise overall performance.