Early tensions between Formula 1 giants

The 2026 Formula 1 season is only just getting underway, but the first verbal clashes between top teams have already emerged.

During Media Day for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, Mercedes driver George Russell openly criticized Ferrari, creating tension in the paddock before the weekend’s race.

Mercedes and Ferrari set the pace early

The opening round of the championship suggested that Mercedes and Ferrari could be the teams to beat this season. At the Australian Grand Prix, both squads occupied the top four positions, signaling a potential title battle between the two historic teams.

While Mercedes impressed with strong race pace, Ferrari stood out for its efficiency under the sport’s new and complex starting procedure, an aspect that quickly became a major talking point within the paddock.

Russell questions Ferrari’s stance on rule changes

Speaking to the BBC, George Russell addressed discussions surrounding possible adjustments to the new start procedure and suggested that certain teams were unwilling to support changes because they currently benefit from the system.

“The FIA was looking at potentially adjusting it, but as you can imagine, teams that are making good starts didn’t want that, which I think is foolish,” Russell said.

His comments were widely interpreted as a clear reference to Ferrari, which has been particularly strong during race starts this season.

“Selfishness” as part of Formula 1

The Mercedes driver went even further when describing the competitive dynamics between teams in the championship.

“There’s often selfishness and a desire to do what’s best for yourselves. That’s part of Formula 1 and part of the challenge of the sport, and we’ll deal with it,” Russell added.