'We have to be trusted' - Russell, Antonelli reveal outcome of Mercedes talks

George Russell and Kimi Antonelli can continue to race "freely" despite their close calls when going wheel to wheel last time out in Canada; watch Friday's practice sessions for the Monaco Grand Prix at 12.30pm and 4pm, live on Sky Sports F1

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>George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have been "trusted" to race each other freely as long as there is "respect" after Mercedes held discussions with its drivers following their battles in Canada.

>The Mercedes duo went head-to-head in the Sprint and Grand Prix last time out in Montreal, making minor contact in both duels.

>Russell came out on top in the Sprint but their battle in the main race came to an end after 30 laps when the British driver retired due to an engine problem which leaves him 43 points behind Antonelli in the Drivers' Championship.

>"It was left that we have to be trusted. This is what we do. We're drivers. We push ourselves to the limit every single lap," Russell said ahead of this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

>"When we race with one another, you push each other to the limits as well. Of course, when you're sat on the sidelines, at the pit wall or even Toto [Wolff], of course, it's so stressful and tense because you can't control what is about to happen and you want to be able to control it.

>"Ultimately we have to be trusted, and we are trusted, and that's how it's been left, so we'll continue fighting hard. We know the boundaries of one another, and that was good."

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>Antonelli revealed he and Russell held talks with the team as recently as this week where "all the episodes of the race" were reviewed.

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>"The end of the discussion was, you can race each other freely, as long as there's respect, as long as you don't put yourself in situations that could damage one of you or both of you. The team doesn't want to put in any rules," he said.

>"Understandably, they want both cars to finish and to get as many points as possible for the team, and that is in our minds as well because we race for ourselves because we want to be the best, we want to win. But we also race for the team because we want to reward the 2000 plus people that works back in Brackley and Brixworth."

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>Russell stated the championship was "Antonelli's to lose" following his retirement in Canada, with the Italian teenager also claiming his fourth consecutive Grand Prix win.

>But, he was in a more positive mood on Thursday in Monaco and says "everything is to play for" if he can perform at a high level.

>"It's anybody's to win still," said Russell. "A lot of emotions in the moment, of course, but now when I've looked at it, I've looked over championships in the past, I don't think there's ever been a season where the winner hasn't had some form of bad luck at one point.

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>"Even Lando last year broke down in Zandvoort, disqualified in Vegas. Other drivers in other seasons - Max [Verstappen] in 2021, his tyre blew out in Azerbaijan - there's always something at some point that goes against you as a driver.

>"I've had it once or twice already this season, maybe that's the last of it and it all swings around. But there's plenty of opportunity remaining and I'm just feeling good that I ticked every box possible in Canada and I did everything I could."

>Antonelli admits he is "surprised" by his start to the season but insists it's "too early" to talk about the championship.

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>He said: "I just continue on trying to excel, try to do my best whenever I go in the car, trying to maximise the result, then we'll see where we end up in at the end of the season.

>"It's difficult to think about losing something when you don't even have it. I didn't win the championship, so how can I lose something that I didn't even achieve?

>"Definitely I will race as I always did enjoy as much, and then, as I said before, we'll see where we end up at the end of the season."

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>With Antonelli's four consecutive victories and Russell's triumph at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Mercedes are unbeaten on Sundays in 2026.

>However, the car characteristics needed required to be quick in Monaco mean Ferrari are favourites as they have been strong in slow and medium-speed corners.

>"It's clear a big part of our advantage compared to Ferrari has been in the power unit and in Monaco, because there are not many straights, the power-unit advantage is substantially less," said Russell.

>"We know Charles [Leclerc] especially, but Ferrari, have always been very strong here so we expect them to probably be the fastest this weekend but I hope I'm wrong."

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>Russell also confirmed the power unit issue in Canada caused "a lot of damage" but his engine's performance should not be impacted for the remainder of the season.

>"The battery was so badly damaged, it's had to be sea freighted home, it couldn't be flown home, so we're only going to be able to properly review it once the battery returns back," he said.

>"Brixworth are the best in the business and have been for 15 to 20 years now, so we'll get on top of it."

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>Friday June 5 10am: F3 Qualifying 12pm: Monaco GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm) 2.05pm: F2 Qualifying 3pm: Team Bosses' Press Conference 3.30pm: Monaco GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm) 5.15pm: The F1 Show

>Saturday June 6 9.40am: F3 Sprint 11.15am: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am) 1.10pm: F2 Sprint 2.15pm: Monaco GP Qualifying build-up 3pm: MONACO GP QUALIFYING*

>Sunday June 7 6.50am: F3 Feature Race 8.30am: F2 Feature Race 10.50am: Porsche Supercup 12.30pm: Monaco GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday* 2pm: THE MONACO GRAND PRIX* 4pm: Monaco GP reaction: Chequered Flag*

>Watch the Monaco Grand Prix, the first of six races in eight weeks, live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime