Ralf Schumacher backs Toto Wolff's handling of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell clash

Ralf Schumacher praised Toto Wolff’s handling of Mercedes’ tense team-mate dynamic after Kimi Antonelli’s Canadian GP sprint race radio frustration with George Russell

Following the tense Canadian Grand Prix sprint race and qualifying, former Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher has praised Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff for his management of an intra-team dynamic.

Antonelli argued that his team-mate George Russell had pushed him off the track while the current championship leader attempted an overtake. His frustrations boiled over in his team radio messages during the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race, which resulted in Wolff quickly shooting down the comments and urging the Italian driver to save it for a private conversation.

But by the time the 19-year-old was faced with the media after the sprint, he had cooled off, and the morning had been put behind him as he prepared for qualifying.

This was not Wolff's first experience of dealing with tense team-mate dynamics, with Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg's fierce 2016 battle being the first that comes to mind.

"Yes, he’s open and honest about it. I mean, he also knows that we’ve all been around for quite a while. You can see that. And above all, he knows how to handle young drivers," Schumacher explained on Sky Sports Germany after qualifying. Russell claimed pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix after knocking Antonelli off the top spot at the last moment.

George Russell, Mercedes, Toto Wolff, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

"He raced himself. Back then he was also with HWA in DTM, working with young drivers. And I think that’s what sets him apart. And tomorrow will be exciting. I think they especially need to survive the first corners, particularly the first two."

While Russell has been on top form all weekend, claiming pole position for both the sprint race and grand prix and winning the sprint race, Schumacher threw his weight behind Antonelli.

"But my tip is still this: Kimi was faster," he continued. "And for him to get that close to George with just one lap — that was a very strong performance."