The title battle finally came alive - then Antonelli took control

Kimi Antonelli now holds a significant 43-point advantage over his Mercedes teammate George Russell in the drivers' championship.

By Andrew Benson, F1 Correspondent

Published 25 May 2026, 01:51 BST

The Canadian Grand Prix marked a pivotal moment in this year's Formula 1 championship battle.

This race also served as a critical juncture, severely undermining George Russell's aspirations to surpass his 19-year-old Mercedes colleague, Kimi Antonelli, for the championship title.

Russell's retirement after 30 laps of intense competition between the two illuminated the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on an overcast day, which led even seasoned champions McLaren to make the puzzling choice of starting the race on wet-weather tyres despite the dry track conditions.

With this development, Antonelli clinched his fourth consecutive victory, extending his impressive lead to 43 points.

While there are many races left in the season, Russell faces a considerable challenge moving forward.

Following the race, Russell remained composed but noticeably disappointed.

"Right now it's his to lose," he stated. "He is so many points ahead. It feels like the gods don't want me to be in this fight, considering the timing of the safety car in Japan, breaking down in Q3 in China, and my breakdown from the lead here today.

"But, you know, the pressure's off. I can go out, enjoy every single race. I’ll strive to win every single race. I have nothing to lose.

"I don't want to be standing here discussing my situation. It is frustrating, but I want to compete. Hopefully, my luck will change."

Russell's comments on luck referred to a series of instances where the circumstances have decidedly favored Antonelli.

In qualifying in Shanghai, two technical issues prevented Russell from contending for pole position, allowing Antonelli to claim it and secure his first win.

In Japan, Russell was in second place behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the early laps while Antonelli recovered from a slow start that had seen him drop to sixth. A safety car appeared just after Russell's pit stop, allowing Antonelli to inherit the lead, leaving Russell in an infuriating fourth place.

Now, another setback for Russell looms.

It was not a guarantee that Russell would have maintained his lead to win in Montreal. The intense exchanges had simmered down temporarily after both drivers received warnings that team boss Toto Wolff would intervene if their rivalry did not become more regulated after some concerning incidents on track.

However, the power unit failure that halted Russell's race resulted in a substantial points shift, rather than a more manageable loss, even if Antonelli was indeed the one who finished first.

For Russell, this outcome was particularly aggravating as it followed his recent victory in Saturday's sprint race, which had somewhat muted Antonelli's upward momentum after another fiercely contested encounter.

'I've not had a battle like this in years'

The competition between Russell and Antonelli was genuinely enthralling.

After both drivers reasserted their authority from the fast-starting McLaren of Lando Norris, they frequently swapped positions due to lock-ups at the hairpin, battling on tyres that struggled to maintain optimal temperatures.

"I loved it," Russell remarked. "This was fantastic. I've not experienced competition like this in years. I haven’t witnessed a duel of this kind since Lewis [Hamilton] and Nico [Rosberg] in Bahrain 2014. The new cars and engines enable this competition; they facilitate these thrilling battles.

"I don’t understand why anyone would want to change them, given the exciting encounters we've seen in Melbourne, China, and now again today with Kimi. It’s all possible because of these power units."

Russell did not see any issues with their close racing.

"We know how to race," he added. "I believe we both managed it well, and it was enjoyable. The Circuit is particularly challenging for overtaking while staying within one second of each other."

Antonelli characterized their struggle as a "really fun battle, really close."

As in the sprint race, Russell and Antonelli were nearly inseparable until Russell’s retirement.

The team also appreciated the spirited contest—up to a point.

When Antonelli locked up on the outside of Russell at the chicane on lap 24 and ran through the run-off area, team engineers issued a warning, advising them that if they could not calm the situation, the team would intervene to prevent further conflict.

This matter is expected to lead to discussions between Wolff and the drivers in the coming days.

Wolff commented, "It’s always easy to say now that the competitive spirit was great for the team and the sport, and to acknowledge the enjoyment in the battles—and that sentiment holds some truth.

"However, there's another perspective we must consider; it was close on several occasions. Kimi's maneuvering and locking the tyres could have resulted in a double retirement, but not due to aggressive driving, merely by mistake.

"Therefore, it's crucial to analyze the race and discuss with the drivers whether they believe it was excessively close, and if so, how we can avoid situations that are overly risky."

'He's not going to give up that fight'

Wolff also expressed concern regarding some of the radio communications from the drivers, particularly Antonelli’s earlier calls for penalties against Russell during the sprint race and his complaints about being "pushed off" during the grand prix.

Russell faced some admonishment from Wolff for a sarcastic remark about where Antonelli had chosen to yield the lead after skipping the chicane.

"Listening to some of the radio communications indicates there’s room for improvement," Wolff remarked.

Regarding Russell's championship aspirations, Wolff assured that there is no cause for alarm.

"Recent races have not gone in his favor," he noted. "Today was a valuable opportunity for points, given he was leading.

"However, if I were to choose one individual in this paddock for their resilience and determination, it would undoubtedly be George.

"He has faced adversity before, whether in karting or junior formulas, and I have no doubt he will continue this battle. There are still 17 races left and numerous points available.

"So, it’s a matter of waking up tomorrow, reflecting on today, moving forward, and driving to the best of your ability. That’s exactly what he needs to focus on."