Russell wins Montreal sprint as Antonelli fumes

MONTREAL: George Russell won the Canadian Grand Prix sprint from pole position on Saturday with Formula One leader Kimi Antonelli third and crying foul as the gloves came off between the Mercedes teammates.

McLaren’s reigning world champion Lando Norris, winner of the previous sprint in Miami, was second after 23 laps of Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Russell’s second sprint victory of the season, after his first in China, cut Antonelli’s lead to 18 points with the 19-year-old Italian fuming after the Mercedes pair made contact in battling for the lead.

“That was very naughty,” the teenager said after Russell shut the door on an early passing attempt, with Norris seizing his chance to take second.

The Italian continued to complain over the radio, saying Russell should be given a penalty because he had been alongside the Briton’s mirror.

“I don’t care. He pushed me off,” he told race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington after an attempt to calm him down.

Team boss Toto Wolff then made a rare radio intervention, telling Antonelli to “concentrate on the driving, please, not on the radio moaning.”

Wolff spoke again in the closing stages, telling his driver it was the fourth time and to discuss matters privately later.

Russell had been fastest off the mark at the start, with Antonelli close behind, with only 17 cars lining up and five in the pitlane including Canadian Lance Stroll, whose Aston Martin was wheeled off the grid with a front suspension problem.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished fourth with the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and seven-times champion Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively.

Four-times world champion Max Verstappen was seventh for Red Bull with Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad taking the final point in eighth.

Qualifying for Sunday’s main Canadian grand prix follows later, with Antonelli chasing his fourth win in a row.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

المصدر: New Straits Times