Formula 1 | Singapore Grand Prix

Wolff rejects claims Mercedes favoured Antonelli

The team principal says Mercedes aims to give Kimi Antonelli and George Russell equal opportunities, amid online speculation about its treatment of the drivers.

Nikos Papadopoulos

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff rejected suggestions that the team had favoured Kimi Antonelli over George Russell, calling the claims “completely nonsensical.”

Wolff spoke to media on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the Singapore Grand Prix. The comments came after Mercedes divided its car specifications for the event: Antonelli was using the recent upgrade, while Russell returned to an Azerbaijan-spec W17.

Wolff says equal treatment is a priority

Asked about claims that Mercedes had favoured Antonelli, Wolff said the team had always aimed to give its drivers equal equipment. He rejected the idea that Mercedes would deliberately disadvantage one driver while competing for the Constructors’ Championship.

Wolff said he had tried to be balanced and transparent with drivers since entering Formula 1. He described Antonelli, who had been with Mercedes since age 11, as an integral part of the team, and said Russell had been with the team since age 17. He added that both drivers knew the team would seek to give them equal opportunity.

Different car specifications in Singapore

Mercedes split its specifications for the Singapore event, with Antonelli using the recent upgrade and Russell running the Azerbaijan-spec W17. Wolff said the team did not know in advance which specification would be quicker and presented the decision as a way to find out, rather than as a political choice.

At the time of the report, Antonelli led the Drivers’ Championship by 84 points. The gap had increased at the previous round in Malaysia, where Russell retired with a power unit issue. It was Russell’s third retirement of the season, according to Formula 1.

Newsroom

The account and quotations are from Formula 1’s report published on October 9, 2026.

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Nikos Papadopoulos

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