Kimi Antonelli Wins Canadian Grand Prix After George Russell Retires From Lead

Kimi Antonelli won the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday for his fourth consecutive victory after Mercedes teammate and title rival George Russell retired from the lead on lap 31 with a suspected power failure.

“Right, it's time for us to get our breaths back after that relentless encounter in Montreal”

Autosport

The race unfolded at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where Russell had been leading before his car stopped on lap 30 and he walked back to the paddock after throwing his headrest onto the track and slamming both fists into the nose of the car.

Autosport

Lewis Hamilton finished second for Ferrari, with Max Verstappen third in Red Bull’s first podium finish of the season, while Antonelli extended his lead in the Drivers' Championship to 43 points.

The battle between the Mercedes drivers included multiple lead exchanges, with Antonelli taking the lead again on lap 22 before Russell’s retirement ended the possibility of a Mercedes one-two.

Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle said, "We are in for a bit of a classic season as there is nothing between Russell and Antonelli," as the two fought for the lead until reliability ended Russell’s day.

Russell described the retirement as sudden and total, telling Sky Sports F1, "Everything just turned off all of a sudden. I went into the corner, the engine stopped, no electronics, no proper braking."

Antonelli, speaking after taking the checkered flag, said, "Not the way I wanted to win," adding, "It was going to be a great battle with George but we take it."

BBC

McLaren’s strategy drew criticism as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri started on intermediate tires despite a drying track, with Norris later retiring on lap 38 with a suspected gearbox failure.

Piastri locked up, collected Alexander Albon, and was later handed a ten-second time penalty, while the BBC described the race as a title twist in which Russell’s retirement handed victory to Antonelli.

The BBC also reported that shortly before Russell’s race ended, both drivers had been warned to keep the racing "tidy" or they would be told to hold position, after a dispute during the sprint on Saturday.

The result left Antonelli 43 points ahead of Russell in the championship after Russell’s retirement from the lead, and ESPN framed the title fight as "Right now it's his [Antonelli's] to lose."

“MONTREAL --George Russellhas said the 2026 world championship isKimi Antonelli's to lose after a retirement from the Canadian Grand Prix saw him drop 43 points behind his Mercedes teammate in the F1 drivers' standings”

ESPN

ESPN also noted that although there were still 17 Grands Prix and three sprint races remaining this season, Russell said it no longer felt like the title race was in his hands.

NBC News reported that Antonelli opened up a 43-point lead over Russell and that Russell, 28, retired from the lead on lap 30 with what Mercedes called a power unit failure.

The Guardian’s live coverage quoted Toto Wolff saying, "We should have had a one-two, so we are half happy," after Antonelli’s pace ended the chance of a Mercedes one-two.

Looking ahead, NBC News said the next F1 race is June 7 on the streets of Monaco, while Antonelli told reporters, "But we'll try to be ready for anything. And I’ll do my best."