Frank Rondel
F1 Canadian GP sprint delivered a sharp Mercedes storyline in Montreal: George Russell stayed cold, precise and almost untouchable, while Kimi Antonelli turned raw speed into two costly trips over the grass. Russell kept the lead from pole, resisted internal pressure and controlled the late threat from Lando Norris. Antonelli attacked hard, first at Turn 1 and then at Turn 8, but both moves ended without reward. His complaint that Russell was “very naughty” added tension, though the footage made the duel look more like firm racing than a clear foul, as noted by the customreceipt.com editorial team via Motosport.
Mercedes controls the start, McLaren waits for mistakes
Mercedes had locked out the front row and, this time, avoided the slow starts that had troubled the team earlier in 2026. Russell led cleanly, Antonelli followed, and Norris stayed third, waiting for the fight ahead to open. Lewis Hamilton made the early move among the leaders, sweeping around Oscar Piastri at Turn 2 for fourth. Behind them, Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar remained inside the early top eight.
Key moments shaped the sprint quickly:
- Russell defended the lead with calm precision.
- Antonelli lost momentum after aggressive attacks.
- Norris gained second after the Mercedes battle.
- Hamilton faded late behind Piastri and Leclerc.
- Arvid Lindblad scored the final point for Racing Bulls.
After those incidents, Antonelli recovered enough pace to chase Norris again. On the final lap, he tried the outside line at Turn 1, but the McLaren held firm. Russell crossed the line first, Norris finished second, and Antonelli had to accept third after a sprint that promised more.
Sprint result and points picture
| Position | Driver | Team | Gap | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | Winner | 25 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +1.272 | 18 |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +1.843 | 15 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +9.797 | 12 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +9.929 | 10 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +10.545 | 8 |
| 7 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +15.935 | 6 |
| 8 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | +29.710 | 4 |
Russell’s win mattered because it showed Mercedes can convert qualifying pace into race control. Norris again looked like McLaren’s most dangerous closer, while Antonelli’s speed came with a clear lesson: in Montreal, aggression without space becomes expensive. Hamilton’s late drop to sixth also underlined Ferrari’s uneven race rhythm, as Piastri and Leclerc both moved ahead before the flag.
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