Kimi Antonelli received the Canadian Grand Prix as his Mercedes team-mate George Russell retired because of an influence unit challenge after an epic battle between the Silver Arrows.
Antonelli turns into the primary driver in F1 historical past to say his first 4 wins consecutively and extends his lead within the Drivers’ Championship to 43 factors.
However the two Mercedes virtually got here to blows throughout an unimaginable battle 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 prevented any harm in one of the crucial thrilling lead battles in latest F1 reminiscence.
“We are in for a bit of a classic season as there is nothing between Russell and Antonelli,” mentioned 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 shall be glad together with his first podium of 2026 after making up floor within the opening stint in chilly situations 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.
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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 wrong technique.
Norris later retired because 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 beneath yellow flag situations.
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Lando Norris displays on a Canadian Grand Prix the place ‘not numerous issues went our approach’
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto continued his robust kind with a career-best sixth, with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson keeping off Pierre Gasly to take seventh.
Williams’ Carlos Sainz completed ninth for the third time this season and Haas’ Oliver Bearman was tenth.
Two additional formation laps befell earlier than the race because 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 beneath strain on a giant weekend for the British driver after taking high 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 virtually from the off.
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Russell and Antonelli went wheel-to-wheel making contact as Antonelli was compelled off earlier than giving the place again
This time it was Antonelli defending from Russell initially as he acquired the higher begin – though each Mercedes have 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 rapidly overheated.
Russell overtook Antonelli on Lap 6 going into the ultimate chicane however the Italian practically 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 situations however remained shut, earlier than Antonelli took the lead once more on Lap 22.
However, two laps later, the pair brushed wheels on the remaining chicane with Antonelli reducing the nook and was advised to surrender the place, which he did later within the lap.
Sadly, the drama got here to an finish on Lap 31 when Russell grounded to a halt because of an influence unit failure. He was visibly livid as he threw his head relaxation out of the automobile, understanding it might be a major second within the title race.
“Everything just turned off all of a sudden. I went into the corner, the engine stopped, no electronics, no proper braking. A bit lost for words to be honest right now,” Russell advised Sky Sports activities F1.
“From my side, I don’t feel like there was anything more I could have done this weekend. I will leave satisfied. Of course I’m pretty damn frustrated with what happened. What more can I do?”
Extra to observe…
Subsequent up is the beginning of Formulation 1’s European summer time swing, with the Monaco Grand Prix the primary of six races in eight weeks. Watch reside on Sky Sports activities F1 from June 5-7. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
