F1 Today: Antonelli wants no repeat of 2016 Hamilton-Rosberg incidents with Russell

Kimi Antonelli, the current Formula 1 championship leader, has made clear he wants to avoid a repeat of the fierce 2016 Mercedes internal battle between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg as he and teammate George Russell continue to race hard. Speaking at a media conference while receiving the Trofeo Bandini, Antonelli reflected on their tough fight at the Canadian Grand Prix and emphasized the team's trust in its drivers. He also waved the chequered flag at the MotoGP race in Mugello over the weekend. Meanwhile, Juan Pablo Montoya reignited a long-standing feud with Sky Sports' Martin Brundle after a tense exchange on the grid in Montreal.

Why it matters:

Mercedes' policy of allowing drivers to race freely without team orders could shape the 2026 title battle. With Antonelli leading the standings and Russell close behind, any on-track incident risks destabilizing the team's championship campaign. The 2016 Hamilton-Rosberg collisions, which led to multiple crashes and a fractured team environment, serve as a cautionary example of what can happen when internal competition spirals out of control.

The details:

• Antonelli acknowledged Mercedes' approach: "They know very well, especially in the position that we are now, you cannot put the leash on us. But they also want to make sure that there's not an unpleasant situation. If they feel like it, in the next few races, they will tell us to race a bit easier."
• He stressed fair racing: "We're going to race each other hard, but we'll try to be as fair as possible, avoiding any crashes or contacts because we want the best as well for the team. We want Mercedes to win."
• On his aggressive style: "It's right for me to be aggressive now because I'm racing to win, I'm playing for victories. It's still early to talk about the championship, but I'm right up there in the standings. It's one of those opportunities that doesn't come along every day."
• A GPblog poll found 67.6% of readers believe no restrictions should be imposed on the Mercedes drivers, with 21.3% favoring limits only in certain situations, and just 11.1% supporting team orders.
• Elsewhere, Juan Pablo Montoya responded to Martin Brundle questioning him about upsetting the Verstappens regarding 2026 regulations. Montoya told a betting site: "Martin Brundle, who has never liked me, and the feeling is mutual, got me on the grid."

What's next:

Mercedes will keep a close eye on driver dynamics as the season progresses. If tensions escalate, the team may step in to prevent a repeat of 2016. For Montoya, his off-track rivalry with Brundle appears far from over.