Kimi Antonelli scores fourth straight win at Canadian Grand Prix
Theo Al Jazeera English
Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli won his fourth consecutive Formula 1 race at the Canadian Grand Prix, finishing more than 10 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton. The victory came after a tense duel with Mercedes teammate George Russell, who retired with an engine failure.
Mercedes' 19-year-old Italian driver Kimi Antonelli won his fourth straight race at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, finishing more than 10 seconds ahead of runner-up Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari. The victory came just one day after Antonelli engaged in a fierce sprint race duel with teammate George Russell.
During the 30-lap main race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, both Mercedes drivers put on a gripping show, repeatedly swapping the lead and nearly colliding several times. However, Russell retired due to an engine failure, clearing the path for Antonelli to extend his championship lead.
“It was really a fun battle with George. We were driving right on the edge,” Antonelli said. “It was very tight, and it's a shame he had the issue because it would have been a great fight. But we'll take it.”
With this result, Antonelli has opened a 43-point gap over Russell after five rounds of the 22-race season. After Russell won the season opener in Australia, Antonelli has racked up consecutive victories in China, Japan, Miami, and now Montreal.
Russell's retirement marked a bitter end to an otherwise successful weekend for the 28-year-old Briton, who had won Saturday's sprint race and started from pole on Sunday. After the car broke down, Russell threw his headrest across the track, punched the nose cone, then stormed off the circuit, hurling his gloves to the ground in frustration.
“I wish I had 40 more laps like that to race Antonelli,” Russell said. “At the moment, the championship is his because he's got such a lead. It feels like something doesn't want me to be part of this fight. The pressure is off. Just go out, enjoy every race and try to win every race — I've got nothing to lose.”
After Russell stopped, attention shifted to the battle between Hamilton and Max Verstappen of Red Bull. The 41-year-old Hamilton eventually passed Verstappen for second place with only six laps remaining in cold, windy conditions, marking his best result since joining Ferrari last year. “It's been pretty tough for more than a year, so to finally find the sweet spot and have a good weekend is an amazing feeling,” Hamilton said.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished fourth, followed by Isack Hadjar of Red Bull.
2026 Formula 1 standings
Mercedes leads the constructors' championship with 219 points, 72 ahead of Ferrari (147). McLaren, which had no drivers score points this round, sits third with 106 points.
