F1: Mercedes changes strategy; Toto Wolff wants nothing more to do with it

Toto Wolff was not at all pleased with what happened at the Barcelona Grand Prix. In addition to Kimi Antonelli’s retirement—he too was let down by his battery, just as George Russell had been—the Mercedes team principal was not happy with the on-track duel between his two drivers.

“Here in Barcelona, we may have lost the race because we didn’t want to issue a team order. It’s an issue we’ll have to address…,” said Toto Wolff himself to Sky Sport in the post-race interview. These statements make it clear that there is a desire to change strategy.

With Ferrari in top form, Mercedes no longer wants to take risks; in particular, it does not want its drivers to battle on the track, thereby giving rivals—especially Ferrari—the chance to capitalize on the situation.

It now seems clear that, starting with the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend of June 27–28, there will be very specific rules for Kimi Antonelli and George Russell to follow. The “free to race” policy will change because Mercedes no longer wants to give anything away to its rivals, especially to the Ferrari of his former friend Lewis Hamilton.