F1 Canadian GP: George Russell wins sprint after Kimi Antonelli clash

A calm and collected George Russell triumphed in the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix sprint race, as Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli endured two trips across the grass in the battle for victory.

Mercedes, which locked out the front row ahead of the McLarens, Ferraris and Red Bulls, maintained its advantage at the start as polesitter Russell led Antonelli, despite the Silver Arrows having previously suffered from sluggish getaways in 2026.

The only change among frontrunners was Lewis Hamilton going around the outside of Oscar Piastri in Turn 2 for fourth, as Lando Norris stayed third and Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar still made up the top eight.

Antonelli started pressuring Russell on lap five, and attacked on the next tour around the outside in Turn 1, but he was given no room by Russell and cut through the grass.

Antonelli wasn’t giving up and launched another attempt at Turn 8 but braked perhaps too late and bounced across the grass, losing second place to Norris. “That was very naughty,” the Italian complained of Russell, though the footage did not seem to corroborate his claim.

Briefly challenged by Hamilton, Antonelli pulled away and eventually closed the gap to Norris, who himself was pressuring leader Russell. The sophomore attacked the McLaren on the last lap, around the outside in Turn 1, but couldn’t make the move stick, so the top three remained unchanged.

Hamilton had to withheld pressure from Piastri and eventually collapsed to sixth on the last lap, behind the Australian and Ferrari team-mate Leclerc. Verstappen finished seventh.

Hadjar ended up three laps down after two pitstops, meaning Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad collected the last available point after completing the race on hard tyres.

Further back, Lance Stroll finished highest of all five cars which started from the pitlane, having encountered a front suspension issue shortly before the start. Valtteri Bottas, Oliver Bearman, Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly were in the same starting situation but were outraced by the Aston Martin.

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– The Motorsport.com Team

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