Mercedes has accepted full responsibility for Kimi Antonelli's mechanical failure during the British Grand Prix, which likely cost him a crucial victory and left him without points at Silverstone. Antonelli was on the verge of overtaking race leader Charles Leclerc when a wheel-shield failure struck with just 11 laps remaining, hampering his ability to navigate corners effectively.

Initially unaware of the issue, Mercedes executed two pit stops to address the problem, ultimately removing debris during the last stop. Unfortunately, Antonelli dropped to 10th place, and after exceeding track limits, he received a five-second penalty, finishing the race in 16th due to a safety car finish.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, expressed his frustration, stating, "It's on us. A car should not break. He couldn't turn any more." Wolff also mentioned that they are exploring options to contest the penalty, which could impact the championship standings.

Following the race, Antonelli criticized the penalty as "a joke" and expressed disappointment, noting he was confident in his pace. He stated, "It didn't go our way... It's one extra motivation to be back stronger."

In contrast, team-mate George Russell faced his own challenges, dealing with a slow puncture while battling for third. Despite this, he managed to secure a second-place finish, reflecting on the mixed emotions of finally standing on the podium at Silverstone.

Both Mercedes drivers have faced a string of misfortunes this season. Russell acknowledged Antonelli's superior performance, suggesting the 25-point gap in the standings is justified based on their respective races thus far. As the season progresses, both drivers aim to improve their performances significantly.