© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff explains why Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s rivalry turned so ugly, and why that won’t happen with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes’ start to the 2026 season has been amazing. The team topped all qualifying session, and finished the first two races with a 1-2 victory.
Interestingly, the Australian Grand Prix was won by George Russell (who also won the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race), while the Chinese Grand Prix was won by Kimi Antonelli.
Obviously, some now question whether a title battle between Russell and Antonelli could turn ugly for Mercedes, the same way it did with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg from 2014 until 2016.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, however, doesn’t think the team is in for a similar scenario.
“Nico and Lewis knew each other from karting, from the early days being friends, but also having this social fight that was always ingrained in there,” the Austrian said.
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“Then, what was a friendship became a healthy rivalry, then a rivalry, and then animosity, and it was two very different characters.
“Having said that, you need to appreciate that drivers are like they are to win races and championships, and the moment you sniff that, then the elbows come out. That’s something that the team needs to manage.
“But both of them are Mercedes juniors. We’ve been responsible for their trajectory since they came into single-seaters, even in karting.
“I feel at this stage, and maybe I’m going to bite my tongue one day, that we’re in a totally different situation,” Wolff concluded.
