MERCEDES KNOWS IT MAY HAVE TO TURN GEORGE RUSSELL-KIMI ANTONELLI FIGHT "DOWN A NOTCH"

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitted the wheel-to-wheel battles between George Russell and Kimi Antonelli at the Canadian Grand Prix became "too close for comfort," suggesting the team might need to intervene. The young talents delivered fraught duels in both the Sprint and Grand Prix, including a lap 24 glancing blow that prompted Mercedes to caution them. Wolff openly worries about a potential double DNF, anxious to avoid a repeat of the bitter Hamilton-Rosberg rivalry of 2014-2016.

Russell, conversely, relished the competition, comparing it positively to those intense F1 encounters. Antonelli also called their fighting "on the edge" but entertaining. While Mercedes aims to let its drivers race, Wolff's readiness to "turn it down a notch" signals a careful balancing act. This brewing internal dynamic adds a compelling layer to Mercedes' season, especially with Antonelli’s future in the team spotlight, hinting at a high-stakes battle for 2026.