No repeat of toxic rivalry, says Wolff

FORMULA ONE By PHILIP DUNCAN

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli (left) and George Russell

(BRADLEY COLLYER/PA)

TOTO Wolff is confident Mercedes will avoid a repeat of Lewis Hamilton’s toxic rivalry with Nico Rosberg after Kimi Antonelli emerged as a serious threat to teammate George Russell’s world championship bid.

Teenager Antonelli’s debut victory at Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix arrived a week after Russell won the season-open-ing round in Australia. Russell holds a four-point advantage over Antonelli with Mercedes in ominous form.

Hamilton's relationship with Rosberg boiled over in the three years they fought for the title, leading to a fractious atmosphere within Mercedes. However, team principal Wolff believes the dynamic between Russell, 28 and Antonelli, 19 - both of whom climbed the Mercedes junior ladder - will remain harmonious.