Kimi Antonelli has confirmed he will “review” his battle with George Russell that forced Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to take to the radio and urge his teenage star to calm down.
Antonelli was left bitterly frustrated with Russell after making a move around the outside of the British driver into Turn 1 on lap six of the 23-lap sprint race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
On-board footage appeared to show that Antonelli had a case, that his mirror was ahead of that of Russell’s at the apex, and that he was not left a car’s width on exit.
There was a minor collision between two cars, forcing Antonelli to cut across the grass out of Turn 2.
Later on the same lap, Antonelli again closed in fast behind Russell on the approach to the Turn 8/9 chicane, only to hit a major bump, forcing him off onto the grass again.
That proved costly as he lost second place to McLaren’s Lando Norris. Despite a late attempt on the Briton into Turn 1 on the final lap, he had to cede back the position after gaining a place by cutting the track.
After the initial incident, Antonelli made his feelings clear over the radio, claiming that what Russell did was “naughty”. He later said his team-mate should be handed a penalty.
Although race engineer Pete Bonington tried to placate his young driver, in the end, Wolff was forced to intervene, telling him to “concentrate on the driving”, and “not on the radio moaning”.
Wolff again took to the radio after the race, asserting that the matter would be handled internally.
Reflecting on what unfolded, Antonelli said: “It was a tough battle, to be fair. We were there in terms of pace, but it was not easy.
“I tried to make my move, and I need to review that because I was well alongside, and I got pushed off, but it is what it is.
“Then, obviously, I made a mistake into Turn 8 because I took a big bump and then locked up, and I kind of compromised my race from there, but it was a good battle.”
