Sep.8 (GMM) Ralf Schumacher has criticised sections of the Monza crowd for booing George Russell after Kimi Antonelli’s spectacular home victory.
Antonelli has rapidly become a national hero in Italy, and the traditionally Ferrari-dominated tifosi celebrated his Mercedes victory like a success by the Maranello based team.
But some also turned against Russell, Antonelli’s teammate and championship rival.
“Of course, the Italians’ emotions are running high, no question, but that has no place in sport,” Schumacher said.
Journalist Ralf Bach, of f1-insider.com, agreed.
“The tifosi have adopted Antonelli,” he said. “He’s their national hero, so they easily accept that Ferrari doesn’t win.”
“I didn’t see much difference in the celebrations today compared to a Ferrari victory.”
But he said the hostility towards Russell went too far.
“They believe that if someone is Antonelli’s enemy, then they are also our enemy, and that’s unfair.”
“That was very personal against someone who is simply the teammate and main rival in the world championship fight of their new hero.”
Russell himself played it down.
“When you’re racing in somebody else’s home country, that’s to be expected,” said the Briton.
“So, yeah – smirked it off.”
His actual defeat, however, drew much harsher analysis, with David Coulthard describing the sight of Antonelli coming from 19th to beat a teammate who started at the front as “embarrassing” for Russell.
Nico Rosberg similarly called it a “brutal defeat”, saying he would have found it mentally extremely difficult to accept his teammate charging from the back to victory.
Antonelli showed little sign of slowing down early this week, heading straight to a karting day with his Mercedes team despite admitting he was exhausted.
“I’m really tired, I’m quite exhausted, but you can’t say no to karting,” he told Italian media.
And when asked whether he had ever considered settling for second behind Russell on Sunday, Antonelli was emphatic.
“Never! I couldn’t help but try to win.”