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Kimi Antonelli wants to do what he can to prevent his rivalry with George Russell turning toxic – like Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
Antonelli and Russell contested their most intense battles yet at the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend. The teenager felt he was pushed onto the grass during the Sprint, and Toto Wolff had to intervene on the radio.
They went head-to-head again during the main Grand Prix, repeatedly trading places in 30 gripping laps before Russell retired. Antonelli’s subsequent victory gives him a 43-point lead at the top of the standings.
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Kimi Antonelli: ‘Respect’ the key to avoiding Lewis Hamilton/Nico Rosberg repeat
While it may seem as if Antonelli is in complete control of the title fight, Rosberg had exactly the same advantage over Hamilton after five rounds of the 2016 campaign. By the chequered flag in Abu Dhabi, only five points separated them.
Like Hamilton, Russell has also experienced some misfortune in the early rounds, significantly inflating the deficit. Antonelli will be braced for a fightback from the British driver.
The Mercedes pair had a constructive meeting after the Sprint race, but they were still warned over the radio about being overly aggressive during the Grand Prix.
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Antonelli knows that any incidents could sour the ‘good dynamic within the team’, having watched the toxic fallout between Hamilton and Rosberg after collisions in Belgium (2014), Spain and Austria (both 2016).
“In the meeting we had after the Sprint, including with Toto Wolff, we clarified what had happened, and that was the key,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport. “We’ll be free to race among ourselves, but obviously with respect.
“During the GP, I have to say that the battle was exciting, but there were still some borderline moments that will be important to discuss because you never want to crash with your teammate.
- READ MORE: Kimi Antonelli and George Russell both say the same thing about their Canadian Grand Prix battle
“The important thing is to do our best to work well within the team because we don’t want to end up in a battle like the one between Rosberg and Hamilton in 2016. We want to try to maintain a good dynamic within the team.
“Obviously, things had already changed somewhat at the start of this year because last season we were never in a position to fight for the championship.
“I don’t like talking about the world championship at this point in the year because the season is still long, but we know we’re fighting every weekend for something important, so the competition is there. But I repeat: the priority is for there to be respect between us.”
Rosberg thinks Antonelli and Russell clashing is ‘inevitable’, even if McLaren managed to avoid a fallout between their drivers during the 2025 title fight.
Hamilton and Rosberg wouldn’t even greet one another at the height of their rivalry, and while Mercedes remained dominant, the internal atmosphere was unpleasant for all involved.
Ultimately, the mutual ‘respect’ between the two drivers eroded, and Antonelli wants to avoid taking the same missteps.
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