Antonelli tells Mercedes not to put drivers 'on a leash' after fresh Russell talks

Kimi Antonelli has told Mercedes it cannot place its drivers "on a leash" after a fresh round of talks with teammate George Russell. The warning comes after their fierce on-track clashes in Canada, where Russell edged the Sprint but Antonelli won the grand prix following an engine failure for his teammate, extending his title lead to 43 points.

Why it matters:

Mercedes now has two drivers capable of winning races and contending for the championship, but internal competition risks costly collisions or team discord. How the team manages this tension could define their 2026 season and Antonelli's push for a first title.

The details:

• In Canada, Russell and Antonelli battled for the lead in both the Sprint and grand prix. Antonelli described Russell's Sprint defense as "naughty" afterward.
• Russell took the Sprint win, but a power unit failure in the grand prix handed Antonelli his fourth straight victory.
• The two drivers held talks with team principal Toto Wolff before qualifying in Canada, then had another discussion ahead of the Monaco weekend.
• Antonelli revealed the team's stance: "We had a chat and reviewed the race... how you can race each other freely, as long as there is respect and that you don't put yourself in a situation that could damage one or both of you."
• He emphasized that the team wants both cars to finish, but also recognizes that championship contenders cannot be forced to back off. "You can't really put a leash on a driver that is fighting for wins and for the championship," Antonelli said.

What's next:

The internal rivalry will be tested in Monaco, where overtaking is difficult and qualifying position is paramount. If Mercedes can maintain a respectful but free racing dynamic, they could maximize points while keeping the championship fight clean. But with Antonelli's growing lead, tensions may rise if Russell feels he has more to lose.