Antonelli extends championship lead after Russell retirement at Canadian Grand Prix
George Russell’s power unit failure on lap 30 allows Kimi Antonelli to widen his advantage to 43 points, while Ferrari and Red Bull navigate a turbulent weekend.
Kimi Antonelli has tightened his grip on the 2026 Formula 1 championship, securing his fourth consecutive victory at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. The Mercedes driver extended his lead to 43 points after teammate George Russell retired on lap 30 due to a power unit failure, a result that significantly altered the title dynamics following a tense intra-team battle.
Russell had arrived in Canada trailing Antonelli by 20 points and held pole position for both the Sprint and the main event. However, the race weekend was marked by early friction, including contact between the two Mercedes drivers during the Sprint where Antonelli ran through the grass. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff intervened on team radio, but the main event saw the pair swap positions aggressively before Russell’s mechanical failure ended his challenge.
McLaren faced a difficult weekend after a strategic error at the start of the race. The team gambled on intermediate tyres despite improving conditions, forcing both cars to pit early for slicks and drop into traffic. Lando Norris retired with a suspected gearbox issue after an off-track excursion, while Oscar Piastri finished 11th after receiving a 10-second penalty for a collision with Alex Albon at the hairpin.
Ferrari showed signs of resurgence with Lewis Hamilton finishing second for the team. Hamilton overtook Max Verstappen late in the race to secure the podium, describing the result as his happiest day with the Scuderia. Conversely, Charles Leclerc finished fourth but described the weekend as the worst of his career due to persistent car balance issues.
Red Bull demonstrated improved competitiveness, with Max Verstappen taking third for his first podium of the season. Teammate Isack Hadjar finished fifth, contributing to one of the team’s best collective results. In the midfield, Alpine strengthened its position over Racing Bulls, with Franco Colapinto finishing sixth and Pierre Gasly eighth.
