Kimi Antonelli urged to go ‘out for blood’ against George Russell in Canada

Kimi Antonelli should be “out for blood” versus George Russell at the Canadian Grand Prix, according to seven-time grand prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya. The Colombian’s advice comes as the narrative builds that Miami was an outlier for Russell, who traditionally excels on Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Why it matters:

The Mercedes intra-team battle is heating up. Antonelli has opened a 20-point lead in the Drivers’ standings after three consecutive victories, while Russell is desperate to reset after a weekend he described as a bogey track. How the younger driver handles a potential resurgence from his teammate will define Mercedes’ internal dynamics and could shape the title fight.

The details:

• Montoya, speaking on the BBC Chequered Flag podcast, urged Antonelli to treat Canada as a chance to break Russell’s confidence: “If I’m Kimi, I’m going out for blood.”
• Russell won the 2025 Canadian GP and has traditionally been strong there, while Miami’s smooth surface has always troubled him. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff echoed that, saying Russell “never liked” Miami and is “looking forward to Montréal.”
• Mercedes will bring its first W17 upgrade package to Canada, while McLaren also plans further updates after a clear step forward in Miami.
• Montoya believes Mercedes is “very neutral” in development priority and that Russell simply needs to find a way to match Antonelli. “If he starts matching Kimi, Kimi will try to step even further — and mistakes can come,” he added.
• 1996 champion Damon Hill raised a key question: if Antonelli wins the title, it validates Toto Wolff’s investment; if Russell wins, it undercuts that narrative.

What’s next:

Montoya is keen to see how Antonelli responds when his momentum inevitably hits a setback. “The kid is winning races, but young guys are like fireworks,” he warned. “The weekend that doesn’t go his way, how does he come back?” The Canadian GP also features a Sprint format, adding another layer of pressure and opportunity for both drivers.