Frustrated Antonelli disagrees with Russell: 'You can overtake there'

Russell, who won today's Sprint in Canada, was the first driver to answer questions at the press conference, following his on-track contact with young teammate Antonelli. The Briton remained calm after the session. "Yes, it was just a good hard battle and obviously, I defended into Turn 1 and you never get overtaken around the outside of that corner. I knew it was pretty safe, but kudos to Kimi for giving it a go and I respect that. Obviously, I came out unscathed and went into Turn 8. This track is very dirty as well, off-line. We've seen it all weekend. I was quite nervous to defend too tightly in the Turn 8 because I knew there was a chance of locking up if I went there. That was about it really. Glad that we're both sat here now. It could have been something different, but it wasn't."

Reflecting on the radio messages of Antonelli demanding a penalty for him, he added: "I need to see it. From my side, as kids in karting, we know overtaking on the outside, there's a certain element of risk that comes with that. There are amazing overtakes when they come off, but the chances are quite slim. There was only one direction I was going and I was going to close the line because that's my right to do so. So, as I said, respect to him for giving it a go. Emotions are always high for all of us in the cockpit, but I'm sure we'll both talk about it after."

Antonelli, whose team radio messages led Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff to instruct him to focus on racing did not agree with Russell.

He explained: "To be fair, I was quite well alongside and there was definitely contact, so I need to re-check that. It was hard racing. Then in Turn 8, to be fair, it was definitely too optimistic. I also took a massive bump and I almost spun in a straight line. We'll talk about it later."

Reflecting on Russell, he added: "I think if you're well alongside, you can overtake pretty much anywhere. I mean, obviously, there are corners that are more difficult, but I don't think there's never been an overtake around the outside in Turn 1, but I agree that obviously, he was defending his position. It was hard racing, of course. We were both lucky not to crash, but at the end of the day it was a very fun race."

When asked about battling his teammate, the Italian continued: "We do meetings before races and that's what we say in the room. We race to win and we try to do our best to defend our position. So, of course, probably I understood the significance of that meeting a bit differently. Obviously, I need to re-check. Emotions were very high in the moment and obviously, I was very annoyed. I just need to re.check and for sure, we're going to talk about it and we're going to clarify on that."

According to Russell, however, he thinks he did little wrong, as he argues that the stewards did not investigate the incident either. "The truth is I need to check it as well. From my side, I didn't think I did anything wrong and I wasn't investigated, so I guess race directors and stewards thought the same, but I need to check it.

Further pressed about the Mercedes in-house meetings, Antonelli concluded: "Probably, we just need a bit of clarity. Then once it's clear, then it's all going to be fine, I think. I need to probably ask again. But the main thing for the team is that there's no contact, that we don't crash into each other, which today at the end was very close. I think that's the most important for the team. Also, as a driver, you don't want to crash into your own teammate. We all want the best for, first of all, each other, but also for the team. So for sure we will clarify and everything going to be fine."