Kimi Antonelli erupted in anger at George Russell after a collision during the Canadian Grand Prix sprint, with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff instructing the Italian to cease his radio complaints.
Clash at Turn One
The title rivals made contact at turn one, forcing Antonelli off the track and onto the grass. The 19-year-old immediately accused Russell of pushing him off and demanded a penalty for the British driver. Despite the incident, Antonelli attempted a pass at turn eight but overshot, running across the grass again and losing a position to Lando Norris.
Russell, the defending sprint winner, held off Antonelli’s pressure to secure his second sprint victory of the season. Antonelli finished third, reducing his championship lead to 18 points over Russell.
Radio Exchange
Antonelli’s frustration boiled over on the radio, with his engineer Peter Bonnington urging calm. However, Antonelli continued: “That should be a penalty, I was alongside the mirror.” Wolff then intervened, saying: “Concentrate on the racing please and not the radio moaning.” After the race, Wolff added: “Kimi this is the fourth time – we talk about it internally and not over the radio, OK.”
Title Battle Intensifies
The clash marked the first major flashpoint between the Mercedes teammates this season. Antonelli had won the previous three races, putting pressure on pre-season title favourite Russell. Russell downplayed his deficit after Miami, but the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has been a stronghold for him, having claimed pole for the last two years and winning last season. He struck first by clinching sprint pole on Friday.
Charles Leclerc finished fifth for Ferrari, ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
