Seems the Mercedes team principal is eager for his two drivers to take a page out of the book of the four-time F1 champion.
Toto Wolff, team principal of Mercedes, used the recent incident involving Max Verstappen to set expectations for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli regarding their on-track behavior following their clash at the Canadian Sprint race. The incident saw Antonelli and Russell making contact, with tensions running high as the championship battle intensified.
Wolff intervened during the race, instructing Russell to stay calm after the clash with Antonelli. The incident involved multiple incidents on track, including a collision at Turn 1 and a subsequent off-track moment for Antonelli.
After the race, tensions escalated as Antonelli expressed his frustration over the radio, prompting Wolff to announce that the situation would be discussed privately. Wolff emphasized the importance of clear rules of engagement and on-track behavior for the team to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Drawing from the experience of managing past intra-team rivalries, such as between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, Wolff stressed the need for Russell and Antonelli to understand and respect each other’s racing styles while maintaining a competitive edge. The team aims to foster a culture of mutual respect while racing hard but fair on the track.
