Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli has pledged to conduct a thorough review of his contentious battle with teammate George Russell during the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race, following an incident that prompted team boss Toto Wolff to intervene via team radio. The Italian teenager found himself in a heated exchange with Russell on lap six of the 23-lap sprint at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, leading to frustration that boiled over on the radio waves.
The flashpoint occurred when Antonelli attempted an ambitious overtaking maneuver around the outside of Russell entering Turn 1, with onboard camera footage suggesting the young driver had established position alongside his British teammate at the apex. However, contact between the two Mercedes cars forced Antonelli to take evasive action, cutting across the grass beyond Turn 2. The teenager’s radio communications became increasingly agitated, describing Russell’s defensive tactics as “naughty” and calling for race stewards to impose a penalty.
Antonelli’s troubles continued later on the same lap when he again closed rapidly on Russell approaching the Turn 7/8 chicane complex, only to encounter a significant track bump that sent him off-circuit once more. This second excursion proved costly, allowing McLaren’s Lando Norris to slip past into second position. Despite a late-race attempt to reclaim the spot from Norris at Turn 1 on the final lap, Antonelli was forced to concede the position after gaining an advantage by track-cutting.
The situation escalated to the point where race engineer Pete Bonington’s attempts to calm his driver proved insufficient, forcing Wolff to take direct action on the radio. The Austrian team principal instructed Antonelli to “concentrate on the driving” rather than “radio moaning,” with Wolff later confirming the matter would be addressed internally within the team structure.
Following the race, Antonelli acknowledged the intensity of the battle while maintaining his perspective on the controversial moments. “It was a tough battle, to be fair. We were there in terms of pace, but it was not easy,” the teenager reflected. “I tried to make my move, and I need to review that because I was well alongside, and I got pushed off, but it is what it is. Then, obviously, I made a mistake into Turn 8 because I took a big bump and then locked up, and I kind of compromised my race from there, but it was a good battle.”