George Russell and Kimi Antonelli asked Mercedes to let them race each other after intense battles during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. The team held discussions following incidents that raised concerns about contact risks. Both drivers emphasized their commitment to fair competition.
In Montreal the Mercedes teammates traded positions during the grand prix until Russell retired on lap 30 with a power unit failure. Antonelli went on to claim his fourth consecutive win and moved 43 points clear in the championship. The pair had already clashed wheel-to-wheel in the sprint race, prompting Antonelli to question Russell's defending.