Russell and Antonelli, the sparks begin
The Montreal weekend could be very important for the 2026 World Championship and the balance within Mercedes. In this afternoon’s Sprint, in fact, the first sparks flew between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who – sensing a title – are not willing to leave any points on the table.
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The two Mercedes drivers were involved in a tough battle, with the Briton pushing the Bolognese wide in turn 1, provoking his anger over the radio. Russell, however, besides being a very fast driver, has broad shoulders and is used to getting on his opponents’ nerves (ask Max Verstappen). He is more experienced and, at least in the words expressed immediately after, more diplomatic than Antonelli. And, after the pole position at the Canadian GP, he returned to the incidents that heated up the Sprint.
Russell’s words
“Team support is fundamental. We want to win not only this year, but also in the next 4, 5, 6 years. So we have to keep working together,” this was the Briton’s comment after the race.
Read more Antonelli: “A complicated qualification; Russell and I cleared things up after the Sprint”
“It’s clear that adrenaline is always high when you’re in the car. If the positions had been reversed, we probably would have reacted the same way. But we are fair, we race hard, we are not here to let others pass, but to fight.”
Read more F1 GP Canada 2026 – Starting grid: Russell beats Antonelli at the last second, Leclerc only 8th
