Toto Wolff is fearful that Lewis Hamilton could snatch the Formula 1 title from Mercedes after Kimi Antonelli suffered a disastrous British Grand Prix, cutting his championship lead to just 32 points. The Mercedes team principal admitted that reliability issues have cost the team 43 points in total, with Antonelli retiring from second place in Barcelona and then finishing 16th at Silverstone due to a mechanical failure and a subsequent penalty.
Antonelli's Silverstone Heartache
Antonelli had won Saturday's sprint race and qualified on pole, putting him in a strong position to win the Grand Prix. However, an issue with the car—later identified as a carbon part blocking the steering—caused him to struggle with control. He exceeded track limits and received a penalty, ultimately finishing 16th. Meanwhile, Hamilton secured his 16th Silverstone podium with a third-place finish, despite an investigation for an alleged yellow flag infringement that was dismissed by stewards.
The result means Antonelli's lead over Hamilton has shrunk from 47 points to 32 with 13 races remaining. Hamilton has been on the podium in four of the last five races, including a win in Barcelona and two second-place finishes.
Wolff's Concerns Over Reliability
Wolff expressed frustration over the recurring mechanical issues, which have also affected George Russell, who finished second at Silverstone but is seven points ahead of Hamilton in the standings. "When you lose 43 points and with George it was 25, it's just a lot. If that continues to accumulate... You can only win a championship if we get this under control," Wolff said. He added that both drivers have suffered DNFs—Antonelli twice, Russell once—and that the team must find the "little gremlins" causing the problems.
Wolff explained that the issue with Antonelli's car occurred at Turn Nine, saying: "It's on us. A car should not break. I don't think the ride was worse than any laps before. He couldn't turn anymore. First it was blocked by a carbon part. We haven't done the post-mortem for what's happened. It's just fury we have at the moment."
Ferrari Threat Looms
Wolff also warned that Ferrari, with Hamilton now driving for them, are closing the gap. "Silverstone should have been a bogey track for them with the energy. They were thinking they would have a five or six tenths deficit but they were absolutely on par with us for big parts of the race. This is a tough fight for us," he said.
Antonelli's Frustration
Antonelli was visibly disappointed after the race, stating: "I couldn't even get one point. When things looked like I was going to be able to get one, Safety Car came out and I got the penalty which I know is the rule but I find it a bit unfair. It's OK if you gain by going off but I couldn't keep the car on track in that instance. I was trying my best to stay on track but I just couldn't." He added: "I could feel something broke, I just didn't know what was going on. Initially we thought it was the front wing but it wasn't. Didn't go our way. It was a shame because I think we had a real shot for the win today. It's extra motivation to be back stronger and to do even better."
With 13 races left, the championship battle is intensifying, and Wolff is acutely aware that Hamilton's experience and Ferrari's development could tip the scales in their favor if Mercedes cannot resolve their reliability woes.
