Mercedes to discuss Antonelli-Russell battles amid Hamilton title threat

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the team will discuss how Kimi Antonelli and George Russell race each other going forward due to the possible championship threat from Lewis Hamilton.

Mercedes' drivers engaged in a mid-race battle for the lead at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix but lost time doing so to eventual race winner Hamilton, who was charging on new tyres behind them after a second pit stop.

Hamilton went on to deliver Mercedes' first race-day defeat of the season and, with Antonelli retiring late on when running in second, the Ferrari driver cut the Italian's title lead 41 points and increased his own buffer over Russell to nine points.

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On his drivers' mid-race scrap in Barcelona, Wolff said: "We didn't interfere in them fighting, because that's how we've always raced.

"But it's a situation we need to look into for the future, with both drivers, how to handle a situation where there's a pace differential if we are fighting for a victory or [we are at] the risk of losing a victory.

"And that's going to be an interesting discussion, but always totally transparent to the best interest of the team."

It was not the first time this season that Russell and Antonelli had duelled over a race lead.

Their most dramatic battles so far came in Canada last month, when they went wheel-to-wheel and almost collided in both the Sprint and Grand Prix.

Speaking ahead of the following race in Monaco, Antonelli said the team were happy for them to race "each other freely as long as there's respect" without the need for overly-prescripted rules.

Wolff said the increased threat from Ferrari and Hamilton could just require a recalibration for occasions when the team's overall chances were at risk.

"There is a third party now getting involved in the championship fight, constructor and driver," added the Mercedes team principal.

"And in that respect, we will discuss internally with the two drivers how we want to handle a situation where we risk holding each other up.

"I think it's not going to be a problem. It's just maybe we need to recalibrate."

'If he smells blood, he goes' - Wolff wary of a title-chasing Hamilton

While leaders Mercedes remain favourites for both world championship crowns, Hamilton's season has gained impressive momentum in recent weeks with the seven-time world champion's maiden Grand Prix victory for Ferrari in Spain coming hot on the heels of consecutive second-place finishes.

The spectre of Hamilton challenging for a record eighth world title has therefore grown significantly and Wolff, who was team boss at Mercedes for six of the Briton's championship triumphs, is wary of how his former driver can feed off such momentum.

"I'd rather not fight with him for a title because I know what he's capable of," said Wolff.

"If he smells blood, he goes [for it].

"I've seen it many years where suddenly the Lewis Hamilton train started to go and then it's very difficult to stop it."

'We will really see what Russell and Antonelli are made of - Villeneuve on title race

Sky Sports F1's Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, speaking on The F1 Show podcast:

"We thought it would be an intra-team title battle. Ferrari was there but behind and never close enough to give Mercedes a hard time - maybe for a few laps at the start of a race but then they would go backwards.

"But now it looks like Ferrari, mainly with Lewis but Leclerc will be in the fight as well, they will give a hard time to Mercedes.

"That will put Mercedes under pressure and their drivers under pressure. Then we will really see what Russell and Antonelli are made of when the driver they are fighting against is not their team-mate.

"You don't have the data, you don't know what's happening at the other team. That creates a different kind of stress.

"When it's your team-mate, you know how hard you can fight, or not, and what setup they have."

Sky Sports F1's Austrian GP schedule

Thursday June 25
2pm: Drivers' press conference
5pm: Paddock Uncut

Friday June 26
8.50am: F3 Practice
10am: F2 Practice
12pm: Austrian GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
2.30pm: Team bosses' press conference
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying
3.35pm: Austrian GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show

Saturday June 27
9am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Austrian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Austrian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: AUSTRIAN GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday June 28
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: F2 Feature Race
10.50am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Austrian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Austrian GP reaction: Chequered Flag
5pm: Ted's Notebook

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1's European season continues with the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime