Now, here is a wild twist in the Formula 1 paddock politics: as Motorsport.com reports, Christian Horner reckons Kimi Antonelli has officially earned the right to be treated as the outright number-one driver at Mercedes. The 20-year-old is having an absolute stormer of a second year in the category, holding a massive 102-point lead over team-mate George Russell in second place with just six rounds remaining in the season. That means the youngster could actually wrap up the title in Austin next time out.
Looking at the numbers, it is easy to see why. Antonelli has racked up 14 podiums, including eight wins, completely turning the tables on Russell, who walked into 2026 as the firm title favourite. Horner points out that if another squad becomes a genuine threat, Mercedes will have to take a clear stance to avoid throwing away a championship, comparing the situation to Williams back in 1986 when Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet fought each other and ultimately lost the crown to McLaren's Alain Prost.
You’ve just got to be honest and with the principles of ‘okay, what are the objectives here’.
Drawing on his own vast experience from leading Red Bull from 2005 to 2025, Horner knows a thing or two about managing intra-team battles. Under his watch, the squad backed clear number ones like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, both of whom delivered four world titles apiece. He contrasts that with McLaren's approach last year with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who received equal treatment and nearly let Verstappen steal the crown.
“At the end of the day, the team is what comes first and the drivers are ultimately contractors,” Horner told Autosport, explaining that promising both drivers a shot at the title is simply unrealistic. “Ultimately there will be one driver that achieves superiority on track and they're both given the same chance, they're both given the same equipment, but you earn the respect and a status within a team by what you do on a track.”
For Horner, the philosophy of backing a primary driver goes right back to 2010, when Vettel and team-mate Mark Webber regularly clashed on track while fighting for the title, nearly handing the championship to Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. That chaos taught the young team hard lessons about the intense media pressure and scrutiny that arrives the moment you start winning.
“It's very hard to keep everybody happy all the time,” Horner added. “You’ve just got to be honest and with the principles of ‘okay, what are the objectives here’.”
