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

Mercedes left Monza with great joy after a 1-2 finish, but behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli's historic victory lies a controversial strategy decision that many believe cost George Russell a chance to win. Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya was quick to criticize the German team's handling of the virtual safety car period. At Monza, Antonelli produced a phenomenal performance, starting from 19th position and passing a host of rivals to take his first win, becoming the first Italian driver to win there since 2026. However, a closer look at the race shows that Russell controlled much of the event, leading from early on with a steady pace. The turning point came mid-race when the virtual safety car was deployed. Russell was leading, while Antonelli had already moved up through the field thanks to an earlier stop. Mercedes decided to call only Antonelli in for new tyres, leaving Russell out on track. This immediately put Russell at a disadvantage, as he had to complete a long stint on a used hard tyre. Montoya, a two-time winner at Monza, defended Russell in his post-race analysis on F1 TV, arguing that Mercedes should have performed a double-stack pit stop, bringing both drivers in simultaneously. 'George was leading, so he should have had priority in the pit stop. When that virtual safety car came, it was quicker to stop than to stay out. They should have stopped him, double-stacked him, and he would have come out ahead of Antonelli,' Montoya said. 'I'm not saying Antonelli wouldn't have caught him and won the race, but it would have been a really close fight like we saw earlier. It would have been a great finish for everyone.' Montoya also pointed out that by leaving Russell out, Mercedes inadvertently ruined his chances. As expected, once racing resumed, Antonelli on fresh tyres easily caught and passed Russell to take the lead and the win. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff defended the decision, insisting there was no favoritism. Wolff explained that the team opted for a one-stop strategy, which suited Antonelli, but nothing could have stopped the Italian driver on the day. 'The two-stop was the best, but we didn't think it was the case, so it was good for him actually. Today there was nothing that would have stopped Antonelli. George fought with worn-out tools at the end, so I'm really happy for the one-two,' Wolff told Sky Sports F1. When asked if there was any other option for Russell, Wolff added: 'No, George was on the hard tyre, and we needed to go with the one-stop, so there was no chance.' From a tactical perspective, Mercedes' decision can be explained. During a virtual safety car, the time lost in the pit lane is significantly reduced compared to normal racing, so calling both cars in would have been feasible and would have maintained the order. However, the team may have calculated that Russell could extend his hard tyre stint and finish with a one-stop strategy, while Antonelli would use two stops. But things didn't go as planned as Antonelli gained the advantage with fresh tyres. The failure to pit Russell alongside Antonelli has raised questions about favoritism within the team. Is Mercedes favoring the young Italian, who is expected to become a future star? Or did they genuinely believe the one-stop was best? The answer likely lies in the team's desire to optimize the overall result, but this could affect Russell's morale as he craves victories. Looking back, double-stacking has been used successfully by many teams, especially during safety car periods. It helps avoid losing track position and ensures both drivers have fresh tyres for the final laps. In this case, it could have preserved the order and given both drivers a fair fight. However, in a race full of variables, every tactical call involves trade-offs. Mercedes achieved their main goal of a famous 1-2 at Monza, but for Russell, it may be a bitter disappointment. Montoya believes Russell deserved the chance, but perhaps the team is looking at the bigger picture with Antonelli. Regardless, the debate over Mercedes' tactics will continue. What happened at Monza will serve as a lesson for teams in similar situations, reminding fans that behind every victory are complex calculations.