The first of a series of flashpoints between Russell and Antonelli came on lap six after the two Mercedes had converted their front-row starting positions into a one-two on track at the start.
Antonelli tried to pass Russell around the outside of Turn One, but ended up on the grass, managing to hold on to second place.
This was the incident by which Antonelli was angered and the Italian continued his complaints after the race.
“It was a tough battle,” he said. “I need to review that. I tried to make my move but I was quite well alongside and got pushed off.”
A little further around the same lap, Antonelli overshot his braking point at Turn Eight and plunged across the grass and out of the other side of the chicane.
Antonelli held his hands up about this incident, saying he had hit a bump on the track and compromised his race.
Norris nipped by into second place and was soon right up behind Russell challenging for the lead.
After dropping back a little following the incident, Antonelli made it a three-way fight for the lead and, with just under two laps to go, he tried to pass Norris at Turn One.
Again, he ended up off the track and Norris held on.
At the same time, McLaren’s second driver Oscar Piastri passed Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari for fourth, and the seven-time champion lost another place to team-mate Charles Leclerc before the end of the race.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took seventh after a lonely race unable to keep up with the top six, while Racing Bull’s Arvid Lindblad claimed the final point in eighth.