George Russell Rules Out Team Orders as Mercedes Leads Championships

Mercedes-AMG Formula One driver George Russell told reporters ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix that team orders are not being considered at this stage of the campaign. He highlighted that Mercedes, while leading the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships, is currently behind rivals such as McLaren, Red Bull and Ferrari in development, with competitors already fielding upgrades. Russell stressed that the focus remains on enhancing performance race by race, rather than on the championship standings, where he sits third behind Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.

He described the upcoming second half of the season as crucial, especially with several triple-header events on the calendar. Russell also said he plans to trust his instincts more behind the wheel, aiming for a more natural driving style. The comments come as Mercedes holds a 72-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors' tally and a 59-point gap to Antonelli in the Drivers' standings.