Image: from This is Formula 1 X @ThisIsFormu1a1
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Kimi Antonelli secured a dramatic victory at the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix after an intense intra-team battle with Mercedes teammate George Russell ended in heartbreak for the British driver at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The young Italian continued his remarkable start to the Formula 1 season by mastering a chaotic race in Montreal filled with strategic gambles, changing conditions, collisions, virtual safety cars, and several retirements. With the win, Antonelli extended his championship lead to 43 points after just five races.
Kimi Antonelli has extended his lead in the Drivers' Championship after winning the Canadian Grand Prix, with Mercedes team mate George Russell forced to retire with a power unit issue.#F1 #Formula1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/ABARwgb2lT
— FC One Football (@FCOneFootball) May 24, 2026
Chaos before the start
The race weekend exploded into uncertainty even before the lights went out. Rain threats forced several teams into risky tire strategies, with drivers including Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Nico Hülkenberg gambling on intermediate tires in anticipation of early showers.
The situation worsened when Arvid Lindblad stalled on the grid and failed to engage a gear, forcing an aborted start and reducing the race distance from 70 to 68 laps.
When the race finally got underway, Norris launched brilliantly into the lead while Russell lost ground. Lewis Hamilton immediately capitalized, overtaking Piastri to move into fourth place during the opening lap.
For Bortoleto, however, the start quickly became disastrous. The Brazilian struggled badly on intermediates as the track remained dry, losing multiple positions almost immediately.
Mercedes duel dominates the race
As the race settled, the spotlight shifted entirely to the fierce Mercedes fight between Russell and Antonelli.
Russell reclaimed the lead after Antonelli made a mistake at the chicane on lap seven, but the Italian stayed glued to his teammate for much of the race. The pair exchanged positions multiple times and engaged in some of the most aggressive wheel-to-wheel action seen this season.
Antonelli finally regained the lead on lap 22 with a bold move around the outside.
The battle came to a dramatic conclusion on lap 30 when Russell ran straight through the chicane between Turns 8 and 9 before retiring from the race. Mercedes initially suspected a power unit issue.
Russell climbed out of the car, visibly furious, ending what had been the central storyline of the Grand Prix.
Hamilton returns to the podium
With Russell out, Antonelli took full control despite struggling at times with cold track temperatures and lapped-car traffic.
Max Verstappen moved into second after overtaking Hamilton earlier in the race, but the Ferrari driver surged back during the closing stages and began heavily pressuring the Dutchman.
Hamilton launched repeated attacks into Turn 1 over the final laps, while Verstappen defended aggressively despite small mistakes late in the race, including an off-track moment at the hairpin.
Eventually, Hamilton succeeded in reclaiming second place near the end, securing his first podium of the season and his first since joining Ferrari. The seven-time world champion celebrated emotionally over team radio after the finish.
Verstappen completed the podium in third place.
Multiple incidents shape the race
Several other incidents played major roles throughout the Grand Prix.
Oscar Piastri received a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Alexander Albon, which forced the Williams driver out of the race.
Lando Norris retired with mechanical problems, while Sergio Pérez suffered a heavy crash after a suspension failure. Isack Hadjar was also penalized for changing direction multiple times while defending against Charles Leclerc.
Virtual Safety Car periods repeatedly interrupted the race rhythm.
For Gabriel Bortoleto, the afternoon proved extremely difficult. The Audi driver suffered from the failed intermediate-tire gamble, a poor start and a lack of pace throughout most of the race. He eventually finished 13th and later received a five-second penalty for a VSC infringement, though it had no effect on his final position.
Formula 1 now heads to Monaco on June 7 for the next round of the championship.
Canadian Grand Prix 2026 – Final Classification
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Ford)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull/Ford)
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Mercedes)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Ford)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Mercedes)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes)
- Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes)
- Nico Hülkenberg (Audi)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
- Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Honda)
- Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac/Ferrari)
Retirements: Sergio Pérez, Lando Norris, George Russell, Fernando Alonso, Alexander Albon, and Arvid Lindblad.