Marc Priestley says Kimi Antonelli was ‘out of control’ before dramatic George Russell incident

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Ex-Formula 1 mechanic Marc Priestley has claimed that Kimi Antonelli was ‘out of control’ before his dramatic incident with George Russell during the Canadian Grand Prix Sprint. 

On Saturday, there was a tense moment between Mercedes teammates Antonelli and Russell as their world championship battle resumed in Montreal.

On Lap 6, the pair went wheel to wheel, and Antonelli claimed that Russell had pushed him off the track.

Antonelli was furious on his team radio, claiming Russell should get a penalty for the incident.

However, no action was taken, and Russell went on to win the Sprint ahead of Lando Norris, with Antonelli coming home in third place.

Marc Priestley says Kimi Antonelli was ‘out of control’

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live during the Sprint, ex-McLaren mechanic Priestley claimed that Antonelli was ‘out of control’ after locking up, which allowed Russell to keep hold of his position. He also stated that Antonelli and Russell gifted Norris a second-place finish. 

Priestley said: “What they have done in all of that is hand a gift to Lando Norris and to Lewis Hamilton and the closing pack. They were out in front, they were unchallenged, they had the race to themselves.

“A short sprint could have run it to the flag and brought a one-two, but Kimi had other ideas.

“The trouble with Kimi Antonelli was that he got alongside his teammate, but he locked a tyre, which says he is out of control to some extent and that allowed George Russell to nip back underneath him as Kimi ran wide.

“Mercedes are going to be fuming because they had this race absolutely sewn up, now George is under threat from Lando Norris, and Kimi has Lewis behind him.

“You can see how frustrated Antonelli is; he desperately knows he should be back up the front. It was potentially his mistake that cost him that position, allowing Lando Norris into the fight of this Sprint.

“He wants it back, you can tell how desperately he wants it back. He’s looking for different lines into corners, and I think Lando Norris and George Russell will know that.”

Will Kimi Antonelli return with a vengeance in the Canadian Grand Prix?

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READ MORE: Toto Wolff left furious with Kimi Antonelli’s Canadian GP Sprint radio message

Speaking on the incident, Russell was adamant that it was fair racing and claimed that he would not wave anybody by. 

The Brit added that he had peace of mind due to the lack of investigation from the FIA stewards.

Russell said on Sky Sports F1: “In years gone by, it has been discussed that you race each other hard but fair, and from my side, there are never ill intentions towards anything.

“On the same note, I am not just going to wave anybody by. We are both fighting for our championship.

“It is always team first, and we will talk about it afterwards. I have the peace of mind that it wasn’t investigated. If the FIA think it’s fine, that’s enough.”