Russell returns to the duel with Antonelli: “We are here to fight, not to let others pass”

Russell and Antonelli, the sparks begin The weekend in Montreal could be very important for the purposes of the 2026 World Championship and the balance within Mercedes. In this afternoon’s Sprint, in fact, the first sparks arose between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who – sensing the scent of a title – are not willing to leave any points on the table. The two Mercedes drivers were the protagonists of a tough battle, with the Briton widening the Bolognese driver in turn 1, provoking his anger over the radio. Russell, however, in addition to being a very fast driver, has broad shoulders and is used to making his opponents nervous (call Max Verstappen). He is more knowledgeable and, at least in words expressed immediately, more diplomatic than Antonelli. And, after the pole position of the Canadian GP, ​​he returned to the episodes that ignited Sprint. Russell’s words “The support of the team is fundamental. We want to win not only this year, but also in the next 4, 5, 6 years. So we must continue to work together”, this is the comment of the Briton after the race. “It’s clear that the adrenaline is always high when you’re in the car. If the positions had been reversed, we probably would have reacted the same way. But we’re correct, we race hard, we’re not here to let others pass, but to fight.”

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-05-24 08:02:00