Montoya: Mercedes should have double-stacked Russell instead of letting victory slip away at Monza

When the virtual safety car (VSC) appeared midway through the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, George Russell was leading and everything seemed under control for Mercedes. Yet the team called only Kimi Antonelli into the pits and left Russell out on track. Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes that was the moment Mercedes dropped the victory from its own hands. The context of the race was special. Antonelli started from 19th, charged through the field to win and became the first Italian driver to triumph at Monza since 2026. Mercedes left the Temple of Speed with a 1-2 finish, but the race dynamics showed Russell controlled the early pace. When Antonelli was brought in for fresh tyres and Russell did not get the same benefit, the picture quickly changed. Montoya, who previously raced for Williams and McLaren, gave his verdict on F1 TV’s post-race show. “He was leading and should have had priority on the pitstop. When that virtual safety car came, it is 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,” said Montoya. He did not deny Antonelli’s talent, but argued that the failure to double-stack robbed fans of a spectacular finale. “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,” the Colombian said. Strategically, a VSC is a golden opportunity to pit without losing track position. If Mercedes had called both drivers in together, Russell would have been released first and Antonelli would have waited a little longer in the pit lane. That does not guarantee victory, but it would have given Russell fresher tyres and a genuine chance to defend his lead. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff had a different view. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, he said: “The two-stop was the best but we didn’t think it was the case, so that was good for him actually. But today there was nothing that would have stopped him [Antonelli]. George fought with worn-out tools at the end, so I’m really happy for the one-two.” Asked if Russell had any other options, Wolff replied: “No, George was on the hard and we needed to go on the one-stop so there was no chance.” That answer exposes an interesting paradox. Mercedes admitted two stops were the ideal approach, yet they chose a one-stop for both drivers, and only Antonelli pitted under the VSC. If the one-stop strategy was mandatory because of tyres, why was Russell, the leader, not given priority and brought in at the same time as his team-mate? That is exactly the blind spot Montoya highlighted. There is also an argument in Mercedes’ defence. Even with a double-stack, Antonelli would still have had newer tyres and the pace to chase down Russell in the final laps. Wolff insisted nothing could have stopped Antonelli on the day. Russell may have left the pits ahead, but the problem was not only about pit order; it was also about the durability of the hard tyres and the sheer speed of the young Italian. So Mercedes’ mistake may not simply be refusing the double-stack, but leaving Russell out for too long on a less flexible strategy. The Monza victory belonged to Antonelli, and it was a memorable moment for Italy and Mercedes. But for Russell, being left out of the most important pit call of the race is a difficult pill to swallow. Montoya might be right: a double-stack may not have saved the win, but it would have turned the final laps into a true wheel-to-wheel duel. In Formula 1, fans do not always remember the standings; they remember the moments when they held their breath with every tyre. Mercedes’ strategy took that moment away from themselves.