Antonelli and Russell back Mercedes’ constructors’ title bid in Brazil

Kimi Antonelli has already secured his first Formula 1 world title in Mexico. Now he and George Russell believe Mercedes can add the constructors’ crown in Brazil. The team needs to score three more points than Ferrari at the Brazilian Grand Prix to clinch its first constructors’ title since 2021.

Grid penalties for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton after engine-component changes have made Mercedes’ task easier. Russell also has a penalty and is due to start seventh.

Antonelli said he thought pole position was within reach and acknowledged making mistakes himself in qualifying. He still believed Mercedes was well placed to secure the title. He also said he believed both Ferraris had grid penalties and that Mercedes only needed to finish ahead of them.

Russell said winning the constructors’ title would mean a great deal after what he described as an extremely difficult period for Mercedes. He praised Toto Wolff’s leadership, saying the people currently at the team were the same ones from its successful years and had endured 2022–25. Russell said nobody had been arbitrarily hired or fired, and that trust in the team’s core had held; he credited Wolff’s loyalty to the people.

Russell said Mercedes would win the constructors’ championship either at the Brazilian Grand Prix or the next time around.