Antonelli Wins Fourth Straight as Mercedes Strain Grows

Overview

• Kimi Antonelli won the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, his fourth consecutive victory in 2026 and a performance that left him on 131 points at the top of the Drivers' Championship.
• George Russell dominated the weekend with sprint and qualifying pace but retired with a mechanical issue on lap 30, losing ground to Antonelli and heightening tensions between the Mercedes teammates.
• Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari and Max Verstappen took third, giving Hamilton a useful podium at his new team and delivering Verstappen his first podium of the season.
• McLaren and Audi misread the drying conditions by starting on intermediate tyres, forcing early pit stops that cost strong race positions, while Alexander Albon crashed in practice after hitting an animal and later retired after contact with Oscar Piastri, who received a penalty.
• Alpine collected double points with Franco Colapinto sixth and Pierre Gasly eighth to strengthen the midfield, and the paddock now turns to the European leg beginning with Monaco where team strategies and internal rivalries will be tested further.