Montoya: Mercedes should have double-stacked Russell and Antonelli at Monza

The 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza ended with a thrilling victory for Andrea Kimi Antonelli, but behind that golden trophy is a tactical controversy that has not ended. Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Mercedes inadvertently put George Russell in an unfavorable position by not double-stacking both drivers during the virtual safety car phase. According to Montoya, Russell had led for almost the entire first half of the race, and Mercedes should have prioritized the Briton for a pit stop instead of only calling Antonelli into the pits. The context of this race is quite special. Antonelli started from 19th place, but with pace and a bit of luck from collisions, the young Italian made a spectacular charge. When the VSC appeared in the middle of the race, Russell was in the lead. Mercedes only brought Antonelli in for fresh tyres, while Russell stayed out on track. That decision completely changed the situation. Antonelli, with his new tyres, charged forward at an incredible pace, overtook Russell, and took victory. He became the first Italian driver to win at Monza since 2026. Montoya was not the only one who thought Mercedes made a mistake. On F1 TV's post-race show, the former Colombian driver analyzed: “He was leading and he should have had the priority on the pitstop. When that virtual safety car came, at that point, it's quicker to stop than staying out. They should have stopped him, they should have double-stacked him, and he should have stopped ahead of Antonelli.” Montoya added: “And I'm not saying Antonelli wouldn't still catch him and win the race, but it would have been a really close fight like we saw earlier on. It would have been a really cool race at the end for all of us.” Montoya's assessment is based on the nature of the VSC: during a virtual safety car, drivers must slow down, and a pit stop becomes less costly in terms of time compared to a normal lap. In other words, it is almost a golden opportunity to change tyres without losing much track position. Russell was leading; if called in at that moment, he would have kept the lead or at worst dropped only one or two places. But Mercedes chose the conservative route: leave Russell out and commit to a one-stop strategy with worn hard tyres. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff flatly rejected the criticism. Wolff told Sky Sports F1: “The two-stop was the best but we didn't think it was the case, so that was good for him actually.” This likely refers to Antonelli, who maximized the VSC tyre change and made the two-stop strategy the superior choice. Wolff continued: “But today there was nothing that would have stopped him. George fought with worn-out tools at the end, so I'm really happy for the one-two.” When asked if Russell had any other options, Wolff added: “No, George was on the hard and we needed to go on the one-stop so there was no chance.” Wolff's answer shows that the reality is more complex than what Montoya could see from the outside. Team strategy is not simply about choosing the fastest driver to prioritize. It also depends on tyre state, fuel load, timing of the VSC, and many parameters that engineers calculate in real time. Leaving Russell out may have been a sensible decision at that moment, but it unintentionally handed Antonelli a massive advantage in the closing stages. Antonelli had fresher tyres, while Russell fought with ever-decreasing grip. In fact, this kind of tactical issue is nothing new in Formula 1. There have been many times when a leading driver has lost out to a teammate due to an unhelpful pit stop order. However, at Monza, where top speed is everything and slipstream can make a critical difference, not double-stacking Russell appeared even harder to understand. Montoya was right to point out that under VSC, pitting costs almost no time compared with driving a slow lap. If Russell had pitted at the same time as Antonelli, it is highly likely he would have kept position ahead of his teammate, and the ending could have played out completely differently. However, there is a counter-intuitive perspective worth considering. Mercedes might have reasoned that Antonelli, chasing from behind, needed a more flexible strategy to overtake, while Russell, already in the lead, could preserve track position by maintaining a steady pace. In the early laps, Russell was in full control, but eventually tyre degradation told the story. Antonelli's victory was not a gift from the pit wall but a product of his own audacity and speed. Still, if Mercedes wanted to avoid all controversy, they should have called both cars in together to ensure no one could question the fairness. Montoya is not criticizing how Antonelli raced—he simply wants to see the two drivers fight on pure merit. “It would have been a really cool race,” he said. For many fans, this leaves Mercedes' 1-2 finish feeling incomplete, because Russell did everything right throughout the race, only to lose his winning chance through a strategic decision beyond his control. Russell did not express frustration publicly, but the disappointment must be enormous. Teams often claim to work for the benefit of both cars, but in reality there is always an unofficial priority order dictated by the broader championship context. What happened at Monza also highlights a bigger topic: how teams use data and strategy in an increasingly fierce season. Data has no gender, but the way teams interpret data carries pressure and bias from the championship battle. Mercedes had both drivers at the front, but perhaps they were too focused on protecting Antonelli's climb from the back while forgetting that Russell, out front, should have been the first priority. Montoya, who witnessed many internal team battles during his career, knows that decisive moments are not necessarily at the final lap, but in the seemingly minor decisions made by the pit wall. One thing is certain: Antonelli's victory will go down in history, and it is something Italian fans have waited nearly 60 years to celebrate. But if Mercedes wants inner harmony, they must have honest conversations. When the meeting room door closes, drivers will know who truly matters. Russell probably deserves more than a reassuring pat on the back, because his performance at Monza was fully worthy of a win. With many races remaining and the championship battle still tight, decisions like this can define the entire season. If Russell continues to be placed in a sacrificial role for his teammate's benefit, the Monza controversy could be just the beginning of a fractured relationship. Mercedes needs to review its entire decision-making process to ensure no one ever has to say that they lost a victory because a double-stack failed to materialize at the right moment. The Monza call will be remembered as a case study in pitstop strategy and driver prioritization—a lesson for every team with championship ambitions.