Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has confirmed that the team will hold further discussions with drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell regarding their on-track conduct after a series of tense moments during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. The pair collided during Saturday's sprint race, with Antonelli accusing Russell of a 'very naughty' move, and tensions escalated again on Sunday when Antonelli claimed Russell pushed him off the track.
Flashpoints in Canada
The rivalry between the two Mercedes drivers reached new heights in Montreal. During the sprint race, contact between the cars led to Antonelli expressing his anger over team radio. Wolff intervened, telling the 19-year-old to 'stop the radio moaning.' In Sunday's main event, the battle was cut short on lap 30 when Russell's car suffered a mechanical failure, forcing him to retire. Russell was seen hurling his headrest and striking the car in frustration as Antonelli went on to secure his fourth consecutive victory.
Wolff's Assessment
Speaking after the race, Wolff acknowledged that while the team had previously agreed to allow the drivers to race hard, the incidents in Canada were 'a bit too close' at times. 'It's important to analyse the race and discuss with the drivers whether they felt it was a bit close and, if that is the case, how can we avoid these very, very tough situations,' Wolff said. He added that although the team enjoyed the spectacle, there is a need to consider the risks involved. 'We had the margin today, but that's not going to always be the case,' he noted.
Title Battle and Russell's Mindset
Antonelli's win extends his championship lead to 43 points over Russell, who has endured a run of misfortune. Russell remarked that 'the gods don't want me to be in this fight,' but Wolff expressed full confidence in his driver's resilience. 'If there's one guy that I would choose in this paddock in terms of resilience and determination, that would be George. He's not going to give up that fight,' Wolff said, pointing out that there are still 17 races remaining in the season.
