Mercedes sat its drivers down after the Montreal Sprint, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli issuing a clear message to the Silver Arrows.
Mercedes deputy team principal Bradley Lord shared that George Russell and Kimi Antonelli underlined their commitment to competitive racing after a demanding Montreal Sprint, emphasizing that fierce competition is part of their role on the team. Discussions were necessary before the qualifying session for the Canadian Grand Prix due to tense moments between the Mercedes drivers, exacerbated by Antonelli’s multiple excursions off-track. Russell triumphed in the Sprint race over Antonelli, with Lando Norris splitting the Mercedes duo by taking second place. Following an incident at the first corner, Antonelli expressed frustration over radio communication, later urged by team boss Toto Wolff to address concerns post-race. A meeting post-Sprint clarified that both drivers aim to be trusted to race each other, prioritizing Mercedes’ success over individual ambitions. Lord described the constructive talks with Toto and the drivers as productive, with Russell and Antonelli reaffirming their capability and willingness to engage in competitive racing while ensuring the team’s interests prevail.
