Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli has demanded that teammate George Russell receive a penalty following their contentious first-corner incident during the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race. The 19-year-old Italian accused Russell of forcing him off track at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, sparking the latest chapter in Mercedes’ history of heated internal rivalries.
The drama unfolded just a few laps into the 24-lap sprint when Antonelli made an ambitious overtaking move that briefly put him in the lead. However, moments later, the former Formula 2 driver found himself on the grass after what he perceived as aggressive defending from his British teammate. A second track excursion dropped Antonelli to third place behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, despite Mercedes having locked out the front row of the grid.
Antonelli’s frustration was evident over team radio as he protested the incident. “That was very naughty!” he exclaimed, before adding emphatically, “That should be a penalty, I was alongside the mirror!” The Italian continued to voice his displeasure to race engineer Pete Bonnington, claiming Russell had not provided adequate space on the corner exit.
Team principal Toto Wolff was forced to intervene on the radio, instructing his young driver to focus on racing rather than complaining. “Kimi, concentrate on the driving, please, not on the radio moaning,” Wolff told Antonelli, highlighting the tension within the Mercedes garage as their newest pairing begins to establish their competitive dynamic.