Kimi Antonelli extended his championship lead with a commanding fourth consecutive victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, following an intense battle with rival George Russell. The race was marked by repeated lead exchanges between Antonelli and Russell during the first 30 laps, and a dramatic incident that ultimately forced Russell to retire due to an electrical failure.
The Mercedes teammates clashed on multiple occasions, including a tense collision during Saturday’s sprint race and further contact in the Grand Prix itself. Despite Mercedes’ assurances that their drivers were free to race each other, the rivalry intensified on the track. The FIA had warned of rain conditions, but the race began on a mostly dry, chilly track with only light drizzle.
McLaren’s gamble to start drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on intermediate tyres backfired. While Norris initially surged into the lead from third place, both McLarens were forced into early pit stops as the track did not warrant intermediates. Piastri struggled throughout, pitting twice and finishing a disappointing 11th. Norris’s race was cut short by a reliability issue, forcing him to retire on lap 40.
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Russell overtook Antonelli briefly on lap six but was eventually overtaken again as Antonelli asserted dominance. Max Verstappen, starting from sixth, fought fiercely to claim his first podium of the season, finishing behind Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who secured his best result with the team in second place.
The repeated on-track clashes between Russell and Antonelli tested team boundaries, with Antonelli expressing frustration over incidents that saw him pushed off track. Despite the tension, Antonelli’s performance remained unwavering, consolidating his lead and capitalizing on Russell’s unfortunate mechanical failure.
The Canadian GP proved a stark day for McLaren and a pivotal one in the battle for the championship, as Antonelli now holds a 43-point advantage over Russell heading into the next rounds.