Mercedes teammates George Russell and Kimi Antonelli avoided a collision during the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday [1].
The incident highlights the growing tension between the two drivers as they compete for dominance within the team. A crash between teammates can result in significant points losses and internal disciplinary action.
The battle took place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, where both drivers were defending aggressively [2]. The two came close to contact but avoided a collision through a combination of quick reactions and luck [3].
Following the race, the teammates offered conflicting accounts of the near-miss. Antonelli said the move was "very naughty" and stated that he demanded a penalty [4]. He said the pair were "lucky not to crash" [5].
Russell disagreed with the assessment of his driving. He said he did nothing wrong [6]. Despite the friction, both drivers managed to finish the race in podium positions. Russell finished in first place [7], while Antonelli finished in third place [7].
The incident occurred during the sprint event on 23 May 2026 [8]. The close-quarters racing between the Mercedes duo underscores the aggressive nature of the current season's sprint formats, which often reward high-risk maneuvers for position.
“"We were lucky not to crash."”
The disagreement between Russell and Antonelli suggests a fragile dynamic within the Mercedes garage. While the team secured a double-podium finish, the public demand for a penalty by one driver against another indicates that the competitive drive between teammates may be outweighing the team's collective interest in stability.
