George Russell won the sprint race at the Canadian Grand Prix, holding off attacks from his teammate Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris. The race was marked by controversy on lap 6, when Antonelli attempted to overtake Russell, ran onto the grass, and lost second place. The Italian accused his teammate of dirty driving over the radio, while Toto Wolff told him to stop complaining. Fernando Alonso retired and Carlos Sainz endured another difficult day.
The art of legal defense and the limits of the asphalt 🏎️
Russell's move at turn 7 was an example of driving right to the edge of what is allowed. By closing the line against Antonelli's attack, he forced the Italian to put two wheels on the grass, losing grip and speed. This type of defense, although controversial, is legal if the driver does not make more than one move. However, Antonelli's radio message highlighted the lack of internal communication at Mercedes. Wolff, far from mediating, chose to silence his protégé, recalling old team rivalries.
Toto Wolff, the psychologist who ran out of patience 🎧
While Antonelli complained over the radio, Toto Wolff told him to be quiet like a father on a family road trip. The Mercedes boss, who has seen it all, from the Rosberg-Hamilton duel to the chaos of Baku 2021, decided the best course of action was for his rookie driver to stop talking and focus. The message was clear: at Mercedes, complaints are resolved in the garage, not over the radio. And if not, just ask Fernando Alonso, who didn't even finish the race.