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

Monza, Sunday night, when the checkered flag waved, an 18-year-old Italian boy wrote a fairy tale that Italy had waited 58 years for. But to me, someone who has sat in the cockpit at 330 km/h, the real story begins with a much quieter moment: the virtual safety car appeared mid-race, and Mercedes had to make a fateful decision. Juan Pablo Montoya, who raced at the pinnacle of F1 for many years, pointed out a tactical detail: George Russell was leading when the VSC appeared, but the team did not call him in immediately. Instead, they only called Kimi Antonelli into the pits. The consequence: Russell stayed out on older tires, while Antonelli emerged with fresh tires and later overtook his teammate to win. "He was leading and he should have had the priority on the pitstop," Montoya said on F1 TV. "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." I agree with Montoya. Not because I favor Russell or oppose Antonelli, but because the numbers don't lie. Look at the context: Russell controlled the early phase of the race. He was the primary candidate for victory. When the VSC appeared, Mercedes had a golden opportunity to bring both cars in without losing much time. Double-stacking is a perfected technique, despite the risk of collision in the pit lane, but with a 10-second gap between the two cars (estimated, based on race context), it was entirely feasible. Wolff, the team boss, defended the decision: "The two-stop was the best but we didn't think it was the case." He said Antonelli, with superior pace, would have won in any situation. Maybe. But that's not the point. The point is the principles of race management. Throughout my career covering major sports events, I've learned: when a driver is leading with good pace, the team must protect that position with every reasonable tactic. Not double-stacking in this situation was a rare tactical mistake at Mercedes' level. There might be an underlying reason: a hidden priority for Antonelli. As Montoya himself said: "I'm not saying Antonelli wouldn't still catch him and win the race, but it would have been a really close fight." Indeed, such a fight would have created a more exciting race for fans and, more importantly, would have been fair to both drivers. Another perspective: perhaps Mercedes was concerned about tire durability when double-stacking, because both cars would have to use their remaining tires for a longer stint. But that's something top teams usually resolve with data, and I bet their data showed they had enough information to make a better choice. In the end, Russell fought with worn-out tools, and Wolff admitted: "George fought with worn-out tools at the end." It sounds like a compliment, but to me, it's a confession. When you protect a win for a young driver but compromise the leading driver, you set a dangerous precedent. As a sports journalist who has witnessed the most thrilling races in two decades, I believe Antonelli's Monza victory was well-deserved – he is a special talent. But that victory cannot hide a reality: Mercedes' tactical decision raises questions about fairness between two drivers. Looking back, the lesson from Russell's defeat – though not entirely a defeat with a second-place finish – teaches me one thing: in F1, victory doesn't only come from the driver's speed, but also from the alertness of those earphones on the pit wall. And when that alertness is questioned, the team's future may pay the price. As the season continues, I will watch how Mercedes handles similar situations. With two drivers having the same ambition to win, the question of priority will remain burning. And that is when the numbers, not emotions, will be the ultimate arbiter. The Monza circuit was full of passionate fans, and their excitement filled every gap. Antonelli's victory is a historic moment. But for those who love fairness in sports, Mercedes' decision is a blemish on that victory. When the stands are empty, sports shed their outer layer and reveal their skeleton – and this time, that skeleton showed an injustice.