Jeroen Bleekemolen on the challenging task for Toto Wolff

      Former driver Jeroen Bleekemolen has competed in many racing series, and in a column for formule1.nl, he reflected on the challenging task facing Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff...

      Jeroen Bleekemolen: "The best moment in Canada on Sunday evening was probably the podium ceremony after the race. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, two champions from different generations, together having won eleven world titles. And in between them is Kimi Antonelli, the winner of the Canadian Grand Prix. What was he feeling standing among his idols?

      For me personally, the decisive moment of the race was the internal battle between Mercedes teammates George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. I enjoy watching Antonelli in action. Of course, Russell was disappointed that his car broke down while he was leading the race. In the evening, he said he had been unlucky three times in the last five races. I think that's an exaggeration. Of course, not everything was in his favor, but not everything was against him either.

      On Saturday, they already clashed in the sprint when Russell "shut the gate" in front of Antonelli. I liked that Antonelli tried to attack, which many drivers in his situation would not have dared to do. I see him as a potential world champion.

      Last year, there was a lot of talk about the "papaya rules" at McLaren; now such rules are needed at Mercedes. I hope Toto Wolff won't interfere too much and will allow his drivers to race on the track. Of course, there is a saying: if you're ahead, you're ahead. And at the moment, Antonelli is ahead.

      Antonelli strikes me as a genuine and honest guy. He gets in the car and just does his job. I think it's wonderful when a 19-year-old takes every opportunity and shows that he wants to be the number one. On Saturday during the sprint, Toto Wolff reprimanded him over the radio for expressing his dissatisfaction too openly, but I see that as a good sign. He needs to make his presence known and stand his ground. That's part of the game.

      The danger for Russell is that he pays too much attention to his teammate instead of focusing on himself. He needs to get back to basics, think about how to get the most out of himself and the car.

      Wolff faces a difficult, almost impossible task, despite his experience working with Hamilton and Rosberg. But every situation is unique. The advantage right now is that Mercedes has the fastest car. They can afford mistakes and don't have to choose a number one and number two driver just yet.

      Wolff's main task is to prevent his drivers from colliding, but the history of this sport shows that this is almost impossible. He is at the mercy of two drivers with inflated egos and the same ambition: to become world champion. My gut tells me that Antonelli will manage it. And let's be honest: he would make a magnificent world champion."