Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence at Ferrari has prompted Mercedes to reconsider their internal racing policy, with team principal Toto Wolff admitting the seven-time world champion’s threat changes the championship outlook. Hamilton claimed his first win for Ferrari at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, cutting Kimi Antonelli’s title lead to 41 points, while George Russell fell nine points behind his compatriot despite a podium finish.
The race marked Mercedes’ first defeat of the season and highlighted the danger of allowing Antonelli and Russell to race freely. The duo battled for the lead in Barcelona, losing time to Hamilton in the process. Wolff acknowledged that the team may need to alter its approach to avoid compromising results with Ferrari now a serious contender.
“We didn’t interfere in them fighting, because that’s how we’ve always raced,” Wolff said. “But it’s a situation we need to look into for the future, with both drivers, how to handle a situation where there’s a pace differential if we are fighting for a victory or at the risk of losing a victory.”
Antonelli and Russell have clashed multiple times this season, notably in Canada where they nearly collided in both the race and sprint. While both drivers have expressed a preference for free racing, Wolff admitted a recalibration may be necessary. “There is a third party now getting involved in the championship fight, constructor and driver,” he added. “We will discuss internally with the two drivers how we want to handle a situation where we risk holding each other up.”
Wolff, who worked with Hamilton for years at Mercedes before his 2025 move to Ferrari, confessed he would rather not face his former driver in a title battle. “I’d rather not fight with him for a title because I know what he’s capable of,” Wolff said. “If he smells blood, he goes for it. I’ve seen it many years where suddenly the Lewis Hamilton train started to go and then it’s very difficult to stop it.”
