Mercedes Acknowledge Russell-Antonelli Battles Were 'Too Close for Comfort'

Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin has acknowledged that the wheel-to-wheel battles between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend were "too close for comfort." The pair nearly made contact in both the sprint and the main race, prompting behind-the-scenes conversations — but team boss Toto Wolff has made it clear he wants both drivers to be free to race.

Why it matters:

Managing intra-team rivalry is a delicate balance for any top team. Mercedes is enjoying its strongest season in years, with Antonelli leading the championship and Russell consistently fast. Allowing them to race hard keeps motivation high, but a collision could cost valuable points and harm team morale. The Canadian GP served as a test of that philosophy.

The Details:

• In the sprint, Antonelli ran off the circuit twice while battling Russell, and the championship leader complained over the radio that Russell deserved a penalty.
• Toto Wolff intervened, telling Antonelli to wait until he was back in the garage to discuss it.
• In the grand prix, the fighting continued early before Russell retired from the lead due to an ERS module failure.
• Antonelli capitalized, taking his fourth consecutive win and extending his championship lead to 43 points.
• Shovlin noted on the Nu Silver Arrows radio show that while most of the racing was fine, "there were a couple of points in Canada where it got too close for comfort," including one moment where a car could have hit the other from behind.
• He emphasized that both drivers know they must deliver on their end — race fairly without risking DNFs and avoid contact.

What's Next:

Mercedes will hold further discussions ahead of the next race to ensure the aggressive but clean racing continues. The team's willingness to let its drivers battle speaks to its confidence in both Russell and Antonelli, but the margin for error remains razor-thin. If they can keep it clean, Mercedes has a formidable pair to challenge for the constructors' title.