F1 Canadian GP sprint: George Russell wins after tense Mercedes duel with Antonelli

F1 Canadian GP sprint turned into a controlled Mercedes victory, but not a quiet one. George Russell kept his nerve from pole and won the 23-lap race, while team-mate Kimi Antonelli lost crucial ground after two aggressive attacks ended on the grass. Mercedes had locked out the front row and finally avoided the poor starts that hurt it earlier in 2026. The result also gave McLaren another strong points haul, as Lando Norris finished second after capitalising on Antonelli’s mistake, as noted by Baltimore Chronicle via Motosport.

Russell keeps control under pressure

Russell’s win was built on clean execution rather than raw drama. He protected the inside line when Antonelli challenged into Turn 1 on lap six, forcing the Italian to cut across the grass. Antonelli tried again at Turn 8, but he braked too late and bounced off track for a second time. That error handed second place to Norris, who then closed on Russell but could not create a decisive move.

The Mercedes garage will celebrate the victory, yet the internal tension is hard to ignore. Antonelli complained over the radio that Russell’s defending was “very naughty”, although the available footage did not clearly support that view.

Hamilton fades as McLaren and Ferrari fight

Behind the leading trio, Lewis Hamilton made an early move around Oscar Piastri at Turn 2 and briefly looked set for fourth. But his pace dropped late in the race, allowing Piastri and Charles Leclerc to pass him on the final lap. Max Verstappen finished only seventh, while Arvid Lindblad collected the final point after Isack Hadjar’s race collapsed with two pit stops.

Key moments shaped the sprint quickly:

• Russell defended the lead cleanly at the start.
• Antonelli lost second after two off-track moments.
• Norris kept pressure on Mercedes until the end.
• Hamilton slipped from fourth to sixth late on.
• Lindblad gained a point after Hadjar’s costly race.

Those details made the sprint more than a routine Mercedes one-two attempt. It also showed how small errors can change the points picture in a short-format race.

Sprint result leaders

The points spread strengthens Russell’s weekend and keeps Mercedes central in the fight. For Antonelli, the speed was visible, but so was the impatience. In a sprint race, that difference can decide everything.

Earlier we wrote that Southern Poverty Law Center allegations put donor trust under federal scrutiny