F1 Today | Antonelli wants no repeat of 2016 Hamilton-Rosberg clashes

Despite not racing in Formula 1 this weekend, Antonelli had a busy weekend. The current F1 championship leader received the Trofeo Bandini and also went to Mugello to wave the chequered flag at today's MotoGP race.

During the media conference ahead of receiving his award, Antonelli also discussed his hard-fought battle with Russell in Montreal. He said that the German team wants to let its drivers compete freely against each other, as it trusts them to race fairly. "They know very well, especially in the position that we are now, you cannot put the leash on us. But they also want to make sure that there's not an unpleasant situation. If they feel like it, in the next few races, they will tell us to race a bit easier."

The Italian does not want to repeat the Mercedes in-house battle of 2016, when Hamilton and Rosberg fought for the drivers' title. "Of course we're going to race each other hard, but we'll try to be as fair as possible, avoiding any crashes or contacts because we want the best as well for the team. We want Mercedes to win, as well. We're gonna go at each other, for sure, but in a fair manner."

About his aggressive style, he concluded: "It's right for me to be aggressive now, because right now I'm racing to win, I'm playing for victories. It's still early to talk about the championship, but I'm right up there in the standings. It's one of those opportunities that doesn't come along every day, so you want to make the most of it."

In GPblog's latest poll, readers are strongly in favour of Mercedes' current approach. 67.6% believe no restrictions are needed when asked whether the two teammates should be allowed to race freely. A further 21.3% opted for only in certain situations, while just 11.1% said team orders are necessary.

At the Canadian Grand Prix, Sky Sports' Brundle asked former Formula 1 driver Montoya about upsetting the Verstappens when discussing criticism of the 2026 car regulations. Montoya then replied to the Briton: "Nothing new there."

Speaking to a betting site, the Colombian also mentioned that don't have the best relationship with the British pundit. "Martin Brundle, who has never liked me, and the feeling is mutual, got me on the grid," he expressed.