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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Giles Richards in Suzuka

Mercedes’ Wolff says Antonelli and Russell are ‘off the leash’ to race … for now

Mercedes’s driver Kimi Antonelli celebrates with his team after winning the Japanese Grand Prix.
Mercedes’s driver Kimi Antonelli celebrates with his team after winning the Japanese Grand Prix. Photograph: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images

Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, leaders of the Formula One world championship in a dominant Mercedes car, are “absolutely off the leash” to race one another, their team principal, Toto Wolff, has said. Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, the 19-year-old’s second victory on the trot and with Russell managing only fourth, the Italian leads his teammate by nine points.

Wolff insisted there was no plan to use team orders between them unless it becomes necessary later on. “We’re three races in, the car is good so we need to continue to do our job and give them a tool that they can continue to win or fight for the positions,” he said.

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