Mercedes’ Wolff says Antonelli and Russell are ‘off the leash’ to race … for now

• No team orders for championship-leading Mercedes pair

• Wolff says approach could change in latter stages of season

Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, leaders of the Formula One world championship in a dominant Mercedes car, are “absolutely off the leash” to race one another, their team principal, Toto Wolff, has said.

Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, the 19-year-old’s second victory on the trot and with Russell managing only fourth, the Italian now leads his teammate by nine points.