Kimi Antonelli gained the Canadian Grand Prix as his Mercedes team-mate George Russell retired as a result of an influence unit difficulty after an epic battle between the Silver Arrows.
Antonelli turns into the primary driver in F1 historical past to assert his first 4 wins consecutively and extends his lead within the Drivers’ Championship to 43 factors.
However the two Mercedes nearly got here to blows throughout an unbelievable struggle for the lead that lasted 31 laps till Russell’s retirement, as Antonelli and Russell traded positions on a number of events on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Antonelli was inches from operating into the again of Russell early on and the pair later made minor contact, however they averted any harm in probably the most thrilling lead battles in current F1 reminiscence.
“We’re in for a little bit of a basic season as there may be nothing between Russell and Antonelli,” stated Sky Sports activities F1’s Martin Brundle.
Lewis Hamilton overtook Max Verstappen late on to take his greatest outcome for Ferrari in second on a powerful weekend for the seven-time world champion.
However, Verstappen might be happy together with his first podium of 2026 after making up floor within the opening stint in chilly circumstances which challenged the drivers.
Charles Leclerc was fourth regardless of a late half-spin with Ferrari transferring forward of McLaren into second within the Constructors’ Championship.
Watch Kimi Antonelli win the Canadian GP as Lewis Hamilton claimed P2
Neither McLaren driver scored factors as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri gambled by beginning on the intermediates, which proved to be the inaccurate technique.
Norris later retired as a result of a suspected gearbox failure when coming by way of the sector, whereas Piastri had contact with Williams’ Alex Albon and was hit with a 10-second time penalty
Isack Hadjar held onto fifth regardless of two penalties for weaving as he tried to defend from Leclerc and for dashing underneath yellow flag circumstances.
Lando Norris displays on a Canadian Grand Prix the place ‘not quite a lot of issues went our approach’
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto continued his robust kind with a career-best sixth, with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson warding off Pierre Gasly to take seventh.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz completed ninth for the third time this season and Haas’ Oliver Bearman was tenth.
Two further formation laps passed off earlier than the race as a result of Britain’s Arvid Lindblad struggling a difficulty which meant he couldn’t take the beginning.
Epic Russell-Antonelli battle ended early
Russell had been delivering underneath stress on an enormous weekend for the British driver after taking prime spot in Dash Qualifying, the Dash and Qualifying.
Nonetheless, there was little or no to separate the Mercedes duo on pure tempo, as Antonelli confirmed within the Dash when he misplaced out to Russell after they made minor contact.
Antonelli was sad with Russell’s defence on Saturday and the aggressive racing continued into the Grand Prix itself nearly from the off.
Watch Lando Norris snatch the lead in a CHAOTIC Canadian GP race begin
This time it was Antonelli defending from Russell initially as he acquired the higher begin – though each Mercedes had been overtaken all the way down to Flip 1 by Norris, though the McLaren driver pitted on the finish of the second lap as his intermediates shortly overheated.
Russell overtook Antonelli on Lap 6 going into the ultimate chicane however the Italian almost bumped into the again of his team-mate in what would have been a race-ending collision for each drivers.
Each drivers made minor errors on the Flip 10 hairpin in gusty circumstances however remained shut, earlier than Antonelli took the lead once more on Lap 22.
However, two laps later, the pair brushed wheels on the last chicane with Antonelli slicing the nook and was advised to surrender the place, which he did later within the lap.
Russell and Antonelli went wheel-to-wheel making contact as Antonelli was compelled off earlier than giving the place again
Sadly, the drama got here to an finish on Lap 31 when Russell grounded to a halt as a result of an influence unit failure. He was visibly livid as he threw his head relaxation out of the automobile, realizing it could possibly be a big second within the title race.
“Every thing simply turned off abruptly. I went into the nook, the engine stopped, no electronics, no correct braking. A bit misplaced for phrases to be sincere proper now,” Russell advised Sky Sports activities F1.
“From my facet, I do not really feel like there was something extra I may have performed this weekend. I’ll depart happy. In fact I am fairly rattling pissed off with what occurred. What extra can I do?”
Toto Wolff says he ‘half loved’ watching the Mercedes drivers battle in a bittersweet race the place one gained and the opposite suffered retirement
Russell’s stoppage induced a Digital Security Automobile, so most drivers took that chance to make their solely pit cease of the race.
Antonelli went on to dominate the Grand Prix however Verstappen and Hamilton had been pushing exhausting for second. Hamilton slowly closed down a seven-second deficit to Verstappen nevertheless it seemed like an absence of energy from the Ferrari engine would make it too tough for him to overhaul his rival.
Lewis Hamilton strikes into second by passing Max Verstappen across the outdoors on the Canadian Grand Prix
Hamilton went for it with six laps to go along with a decisive transfer across the outdoors into Flip 1 and fended off Verstappen, who crossed the road solely half a second behind.
“A superb day of racing and a extremely strong weekend. I’ve felt on the up and the group have performed a extremely superb job,” Hamilton advised Sky Sports activities F1.
“For us to be up there battling, and in addition go have a great battle with Max, I’m actually grateful. And so completely happy.”
Subsequent up is the beginning of Formulation 1’s European summer season swing, with the Monaco Grand Prix the primary of six races in eight weeks. Watch dwell on Sky Sports activities F1 from June 5-7. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
