Montreal, May 24: George Russell clashed early with Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli in the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race, sending the teen star into the grass in an entertaining victory from the pole.
Russell – who later took the pole for his Grand Prix title defense Sunday at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – fended off a pair of attacks from Antonelli on the sixth of 23 laps as the drivers made contact in Turn 1, forcing the 19-year-old Italian into the grass.
“That was very naughty,” a furious Antonelli said in one of several complaints as emotions boiled over on the team radio.
Antonelli – the winner of the last three Grand Prix races – accused Russell of pushing him off before demanding a penalty.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told Antonelli to “concentrate on the driving, please, not on the radio moaning.” “I need to recheck. Emotions were very high in the moment, and obviously I was very annoyed,” Antonelli said in an ensuing press conference, moments after a frosty finish-line handshake with Russell.
“We just need a bit of clarity and then once it’s clear, then it’s all going to be fine. The main thing for the team is that there’s no contact, that we don’t pressure each other, which today at the end was very close.” From Russell’s point of view, he’d done nothing wrong, chalking up the fireworks simply to hard racing.
“I wasn’t investigated, so I guess the race directors and stewards thought the same,” said the 28-year-old English driver, sitting next to Antonelli. “As kids in karting, we know that overtaking on the outside, there’s a certain element of risk that comes with that. They’re amazing overtakes when they come off, but the chances are quite slim.
“There was only one direction I was going and I was going close the line because that’s my right to do so. Respect to him for giving it a go. Emotions are always high for all of us in the cockpit, but I’m sure we’ll both talk about it after.” Antonelli rolled off course again on a second attempt a few corners later, losing his place to McLaren’s Lando Norris in the process. (AP)
