What F1's driving guidelines say about Russell and Antonelli's Canada sprint clash

The Turn 1 scuffle between Mercedes' two drivers in the Montreal sprint prompted Antonelli to feel aggrieved - but was his annoyance justified?

Although Kimi Antonelli believed that he was pushed off the road at Turn 1 by George Russell in their battle for the lead of the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race, the Formula 1 stewards did not see fit to intervene.

Russell maintained position on the inside of Turn 1, with Antonelli attempting to make a move around the outside. However, the Italian found his car in a rapidly closing gap and was forced to take to the grass to avoid contact.

However, Antonelli's stance was evident over the radio; he felt that he had his wheels sufficiently alongside Russell's car to be granted room for the inside of Turn 2, in deference to F1's driving standards guidelines.

Was he right to be aggrieved? Let's take a look at those guidelines and see whether Antonelli's point of view is justified.

The guidelines differ for overtaking around the outside and the inside. If a driver is taking the inside line, these are as follows:

"Overtaking on the inside of a corner

To be entitled to be given room when overtaking on the inside, the overtaking car must:
i) Have its front axle at least alongside the mirror of the other car prior to and at the apex.
ii) Be driven in a fully controlled manner particularly from entry to apex, and not have “dived in”.
iii) In the stewards’ estimation, have taken a reasonable racing line and been able to complete the move whilst remaining within track limits."

Antonelli stated that he had his front axle in a reasonable position alongside Russell and his argument over the radio hinged on this - but in the first instance into Turn 1, he must refer to the guidelines that cover outside moves.

"Overtaking on the outside will always be viewed as a more difficult manoeuvre to accomplish. To be entitled to be given room, including at the exit, when overtaking on the outside, the overtaking car must:
i) Have its front axle ahead of the front axle of the other car at the apex.
ii) Be driven in a controlled manner from entry, to apex, and to exit.
iii) Be able to make the corner within track limits."

Antonelli was alongside Russell on the approach, and the two appeared to be level at the apex, but the stewards may well feel that Antonelli's axle was crucially not ahead for anything beyond a split second. GPS data then shows that Russell lifts off slightly to maintain some of the momentum to ensure his front axle remains ahead into the corner.

With Turn 1 and 2 in such close proximity, Antonelli may well argue that he was attempting to prise open an overtake into Turn 2, in which the inside-line rules would apply; in that case, his axle was beyond the mirror. Yet, he was already off the circuit at this point before the change in steering direction.

Regardless, this has already been covered in the following part of the guidelines, which states: "The above guides for inside and outside may apply for each element of the combination. Generally, priority will be given to the first corner element."

While Antonelli may have a case if the inside-line guidelines applied, the difference in guidelines for an outside pass thus changes the picture, even in the event of an S-bend.

It depends how much weight the stewards place on Antonelli being marginally ahead at the apex for a fraction of a second, and whether this was indeed measurable in the moment.