Kimi Antonelli took one other step ahead within the title battle on the Canadian Grand Prix, because the Italian made it 4 Grand Prix wins on the bounce whereas on the opposite facet of the Mercedes storage, staff mate George Russell misplaced essential floor after a retirement.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton loved his finest weekend with Ferrari to say one other podium, simply forward of Crimson Bull‘s Max Verstappen who visited the podium for the primary time in 2026.
With loads of different speaking factors rising all through the occasion, listed here are all the important thing moments from the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix…
Mercedes intra-team drama as Antonelli extends factors lead
Coming into the weekend in Montreal, some onlookers had questioned whether or not the strain can be on for George Russell to make up floor to staff mate Kimi Antonelli, with the Italian’s three consecutive wins in China, Japan and Miami giving him a 20-point lead within the championship.
Russell disregarded these options throughout media day, stating that he was treating the occasion as “simply one other race” – however regardless, the Briton appeared to be on good kind because the motion obtained underway, claiming pole place in Friday’s Dash Qualifying forward of Antonelli.
A tense Dash ensued for the Mercedes staff as Antonelli fought Russell for the lead, ensuing within the pair making contact and the Italian operating onto the grass.
Whereas Antonelli shared some offended messages over the staff radio on the time, he later defined {that a} chat with Russell and staff boss Toto Wolff had made it clear that “we’re free to race, however after all we have to race with respect”.
All eyes have been on the entrance row come Sunday after Russell and Antonelli as soon as once more secured first and second on the grid. Followers have been subsequently handled to an exciting battle between the pair as they swapped positions a number of instances.
Nevertheless, the scrap was dropped at a sudden halt on Lap 30 when Russell stopped on observe on account of an influence unit problem on his automotive. The Briton appeared visibly livid as he stepped out, along with his retirement from the race which means that Antonelli would doubtlessly stretch out his benefit even additional within the title combat.
That will show to be the case, as {the teenager} scored his fourth victory in a row, placing him 43 factors away from Russell on the high.
McLaren’s nightmare Sunday after technique blunder
After an enchancment of their fortunes final trip in Miami, McLaren had additional causes to be optimistic about their kind because the Canadian Grand Prix weekend kicked off.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri claimed third and fourth respectively in Dash Qualifying, with Norris in the end gaining a place from there within the Dash to complete second, whereas Piastri added to the factors haul by sustaining P4.
The duo took the identical grid slots for Sunday’s race as they’d executed within the 100km sprint – however this time issues didn’t work out so effectively. Amid blended circumstances previous to the race, each automobiles have been fitted with intermediate tyres, however Piastri quickly radioed in his considerations about them through the formation lap, on condition that the rain seemed to have stopped.
Each drivers did finally pit inside the first two laps to swap to slicks – a transfer that was particularly irritating for Norris, who had loved a shocking launch to shoot into the lead at Flip 1.
These pit stops dropped the pair again and every started their restoration drive by the sector.
Piastri’s try was quickly hindered when he unintentionally hit Williams’ Alex Albon after locking up on the hairpin – an incident that not solely pressured Albon to retire but additionally noticed Piastri served with a 10-second time penalty.
Norris, in the meantime, needed to make a second cease owing to a reliability concern following a visit throughout the grass, earlier than later retiring after reporting a suspected gearbox problem.
With Piastri ending outdoors of the factors in P11, it dropped at an finish a depressing day for the staff, one which has seen them lose floor to Ferrari within the battle for P2 within the Groups’ Championship.
Hamilton’s ‘happiest day’ however Leclerc’s ‘worst weekend’
Lewis Hamilton proved to be better of the remainder in Montreal, because the seven-time World Champion completed second in Sunday’s race after a late overtake on Max Verstappen.
The Ferrari driver had seemed in good kind all weekend regardless of solely beginning P5 for each the Dash and Grand Prix, with Hamilton describing Sunday as “the happiest day of my days at Ferrari to date” after the race.
He added: “It feels nice to have the ability to put the Ferrari on the rostrum, and to get my first second place with the staff as effectively in the primary race, and that is my second podium as effectively. I’m simply elated and so happy with the staff for working so arduous. I lastly have the engineering staff that I’ve been working in direction of.”
In distinction, staff mate Charles Leclerc endured a torrid time in Canada regardless of ending P4 on Sunday, claiming after the Saturday’s Dash that it was the “worst weekend of my profession” as he struggled to get on high of his SF-26.
Verstappen lastly reaches the rostrum in 2026
Max Verstappen stood on the rostrum for the primary time this season, occupying the ultimate step in Canada after dropping second-place to Hamilton’s Ferrari within the closing levels. The Crimson Bull driver had been better of the remainder behind the battling Mercedes initially and inherited second after Russell’s retirement.
Verstappen’s cost to the rostrum was additionally helped by the McLarens of Norris and Piastri beginning on the intermediate tyre for rain that by no means materialised, however the four-time World Champion was inspired by the efficiency of his Crimson Bull, as staff mate Isack Hadjar completed in P5.
“I feel now the final two weekends we’ve got been lots nearer,” stated Verstappen. “Earlier than we have been combating with the midfield, now we’re combating near the entrance so in that sense we made some actually constructive steps ahead, however I additionally know we are able to do higher and that is what we’ll give attention to.”
One other best-ever outcome for Colapinto in P6
Franco Colapinto has actually discovered his stride since Alpine introduced their improve bundle to the automotive. He bagged seventh final trip in Miami, which on the time was his finest F1 outcome up to now, however he didn’t take lengthy to go one higher, ending sixth in Canada.
Having made Q3 and comfortably out-qualifying his staff mate Pierre Gasly, Colapinto was using excessive because the main midfield runner within the early levels of the Grand Prix. He pitted underneath the VSC like a lot of the area, however almost ended his race after hitting a moist patch and sliding alongside the wall, damaging his entrance wing.
Luckily, he may proceed, and drove effectively to handle the injury and are available residence sixth – a outcome that was all of the extra exceptional contemplating he missed all of FP1 with a PU problem and has been taking part in catch up ever since.
Gasly made it a double factors end for Alpine, as he fought again from a poor Qualifying efficiency to complete eighth, extending Alpine’s lead over Racing Bulls within the Groups’ standings.
Feeder collection Method 2 and F1 ACADEMY thrill in Canada
Alisha Palmowski had an excellent weekend on F1 ACADEMY’s go to to Canada, successful each the Opening Race and the Characteristic Race for Crimson Bull.
She mastered the slippery, damp circumstances to win from pole by over 10 seconds, and the British star has taken the lead within the championship together with her efforts in Montreal. Aston Martin’s Mathilda Paatz gained the Reverse Grid Race, and lies fifth within the standings.
Method 2 was additionally in motion this weekend, with Martinius Stenshorne successful his maiden Characteristic Race for Rodin Motorsport in equally difficult circumstances. He needed to work arduous in a chaotic race that featured a number of Security Vehicles, the Norwegian climbing by the sector to steer residence his staff mate Alex Dunne in a 1-2.
Noel Leon took the win within the Dash for Campos Racing and sits fifth within the standings – one place behind Stenshorne. Gabriele Mini leads the championship for MP Motorsport after successful the Characteristic Race final trip in Miami.
