Hot on the heels of Mercedes’ second double victory of the 2026 F1 season, F1Technical’s senior writer Balazs Szabo picks out a moment that contributed to the Brackley-based outfit’s dominant showing in Shanghai.
At last Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, Mercedes faced a classic Formula 1 dilemma: a Safety Car deployment on Lap 10 meant both drivers — Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell — needed to pit at the same time.
With Ferrari lurking just behind, any delay could cost positions. But what unfolded next was a masterclass in racecraft from Russell.
As Lance Stroll’s car came to a halt at Turn 2, triggering the Safety Car, Antonelli and Russell were running first and second. The gap between them was just 1.5 seconds — not enough to safely execute a double stack without risking Russell being held up while Antonelli’s tyres were changed.
Approaching Turn 14, Russell made a subtle but brilliant decision: he began to lift off the throttle. While Antonelli maintained pace, Russell gradually reduced his speed, allowing the gap to grow. By the time they reached the pit entry, telemetry showed Russell’s throttle application had dropped to 0%, compared to Antonelli’s 60%. He even braked slightly to widen the margin further.
This wasn’t just coasting — it was calculated. Russell wasn’t losing time relative to the field; he was investing it to protect his race. By the time Antonelli crossed the pit entry line, the gap had ballooned to 4.7 seconds — enough for Mercedes to service both cars without delay.
The result? A flawless double stack. Antonelli got fresh tyres and rejoined the race in the lead. Russell followed moments later, slotting back into second without losing a position to the Ferraris behind.
