Mercedes disclose remarkable advantage in Melbourne rain chaos

Mercedes has revealed it had a secret source of information during the wet weather confusion in the closing stages of the Australian Grand Prix.

As the rain rolled into Melbourne and across the Albert Park Circuit with just over a dozen laps to go, the F1 paddock burst into life as each team attempted to gauge whether it needed to switch to intermediate tyres.

Some dealt with the split-second call better than others. As the showers reached the pit lane, the likes of Red Bull, Ferrari, Racing Bulls and Alpine held their nerve amidst the flurry of activity around them. It proved to be the incorrect decision.

Mercedes, on the other hand, acted swiftly and decisively. "So we're forecasting that we won't be able to stay on dry tyres, we think it will be heavy enough for inter," George Russell was told via team radio as chaos ensued on lap 44 of 57.

Both the British driver and team-mate Kimi Antonelli were brought in immediately, double stacking in the pits - the lesser of two evils whilst rivals held out.

It allowed Russell to consolidate third position, having just passed the temporarily-beached Oscar Piastri, and Antonelli was vaulted from P10 up to fifth and onto the back of Alex Albon's Williams, who he would ultimately pass en route to a strong fourth-place finish from P16 on the grid.

"Sunday’s trophy was very much a team effort," Mercedes said of Russell's podium following the race at Albert Park. "As the weather played havoc at Albert Park, our team remained unflustered."

Although, the Brackley-based squad has conceded it has a clever, hidden advantage, which is capitalised on perfectly.

After deciding to hold its Thursday media duties on Melbourne's St. Kilda beach, it sent a member of the team back there on Sunday to act as a weather spotter, something that is not unusual itself - however, they are conventionally placed within the confines of the circuit.

"A big shoutout goes to the team member stationed on the beach at St. Kilda," the eight-time F1 constructors' champions added, "who informed us of the intensity and direction of the incoming rain, allowing us to make the switch to Inters at the right time as the race came to its conclusion."

Antonelli was demoted to fifth with a five-second time penalty upon the chequered flag for an unsafe release during those pit stops, but that was later rescinded, elevating the 18-year-old back to fourth, meaning Mercedes left Albert Park joint first in the standings with McLaren on 27 points.