Wolff looks to Verstappen over Mercedes 'rules of engagement' at Canada GP
Photo: Race Pictures
14:15, 24 May
0 Comments
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has name dropped Max Verstappen when once again laying out the Silver Arrows' famous 'rules of engagement' following George Russell and Kimi Antonelli's tense Canadian GP Sprint clash.
Russell and Antonelli made contact at Turn 1 on Lap 6 as the latter attempted a move around the outside before getting onto the grass. Antonelli was soon off the track again at Turn 8 later on the same lap, ultimately losing P2 to McLaren's Lando Norris in the Sprint.
On the radio, the young Italian was furious that his teammate "pushed me off", but he was told to calm down by not only his race engineer Peter 'Bono' Bonnington, but team principal Wolff himself, who told Antonelli: “Concentrate on the driving and not on the radio moaning," before adding post-Sprint: “It’s the fourth time to talk about this, we shall talk about this internally and not on team radio.”
Later on Saturday, it was Russell who came out on top yet again, putting his W17 on Pole ahead of Antonelli after a thrilling Qualifying session. Post-quali, the Mercedes duo revealed how they, together with Wolff, had cleared the air in the hour between the two sessions.
Wolff lays out Mercedes 'rules of engagement'
ADVERTISEMENT
Photo: Race Pictures
However, Wolff has also explained why he actually enjoyed the battle, before harkening back to the 'rules of engagement' established during the toxic rivalry between friends-turned-enemies Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in the 2010s.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Wolff said: "That was good, like sports should be – an inter-team battle or outside, and for us, it’s good learning. We obviously went through these motions with Nico and Lewis. Sprint races, there’s always a possibility to recalibrate or recondition, and it was very easy.
“We sat them down and said, ‘How do we want to race? Are we racing the other car like any third car, which I’m fine with, and obviously, you don’t leave any space there, or do you want to leave the space? Which I would not expect, because fundamentally you are racing for winning and winning the championship.
"Or are we playing this super-smooth sailing, and you only overtake each other on the straight under braking?’ We agreed that we trust them, they know how to push. But in any case, no one is expecting the other one to leave space, because it’s too important.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Wolff was then asked on Antonelli's radio outbursts following the Sprint clash, and what was said to his driver pairing in the post-race debrief. Wolff said: "I said with the two of them that it’s valid for George, and it was equally valid for Lewis back in the day.
"When Lewis went on a rant, I stopped it. I remember in Austria saying 'Just drive the car. Stop complaining’. And particularly here, say it once, vent it. We’re the bin for your emotion, so that’s okay. Don’t be rude, don’t insult, but don’t keep going on, because then you’re wasting my time, because all the interviews that I need to do are about the Star Wars here or whether the rivalry is getting out of control."
Wolff mentions Verstappen in Mercedes battle discussion
Photo: Race Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT
The Mercedes team boss explained that the Lap 6 incident began during the final corner of the previous lap, when Russell did not leave his teammate much room going into the final chicane before the Wall of Champions.
It is here when Wolff mentioned Red Bull's Verstappen, questioning what a driver he has long admired would do in the same situation. "It's good to know the rules," Wolff said.
"Would Max have left space there? No. Would Max have opened the door or left enough space in Turn 1? He wouldn't. So, how do we want to do this between teammates?
"And I think it's important for them to decide how they want to race each other, and then with the outcome. That's the rules now, and it's a framework that they have established amongst themselves, and we are happy."
ADVERTISEMENT
Read more about:
latest news
Canadian Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 22.05.26
Practice 1
04:30 PM
Sprint Qualification
08:30 PM
Saturday 23.05.26
Sprint Race
04:00 PM
Qualification
08:00 PM
Sunday 24.05.26
Race
08:00 PM
Friday 22.05.26
Practice 1
Fri 04:30 PM
Sprint Qualification
Fri 08:30 PM
Saturday 23.05.26
Sprint Race
Sat 04:00 PM
Qualification
Sat 08:00 PM
Sunday 24.05.26
Race
Sun 08:00 PM
Times are in your local timezone
Popular on GPBlog
1
Hamilton under investigation after the conclusion of the Canada Sprint
4355 times read
2
Latest Canadian GP weather forecast after FIA 'Rain Hazard' declared
1690 times read
3
Kyle Busch death: fresh details emerge after tragic passing of NASCAR icon
1608 times read
4
Hamilton hears stewards' verdict after post-Sprint investigation
1591 times read
F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 106 | |
2 | MercedesMER | 88 | |
3 | FerrariFER | 67 | |
4 | McLarenMCL | 58 | |
5 | FerrariFER | 52 | |
6 | McLarenMCL | 48 | |
7 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 28 | |
8 | HaasHAA | 17 | |
9 | AlpineALP | 16 | |
10 | Racing BullsRCB | 10 |
Loading
