George Russell wins dash after Kimi Antonelli conflict

A peaceful and picked up George Russell triumphed within the Method 1 Canadian Grand Prix dash race, as Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli endured two journeys throughout the grass within the battle for victory.

Mercedes, which locked out the entrance row forward of the McLarens, Ferraris and Crimson Bulls, maintained its benefit in the beginning as polesitter Russell led Antonelli, regardless of the Silver Arrows having beforehand suffered from sluggish getaways in 2026.

The one change among the many frontrunners was Lewis Hamilton going across the outdoors of Oscar Piastri in Flip 2 for fourth, as Lando Norris stayed third and Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar nonetheless made up the highest eight.

Antonelli began pressuring Russell on lap 5, and attacked on the following tour across the outdoors in Flip 1, however he was given no room by Russell and minimize by way of the grass.

Antonelli wasn’t giving up and launched one other try at Flip 8 however braked maybe too late and bounced throughout the grass, shedding second place to Norris. “That was very naughty,” the Italian complained of Russell, although the footage didn’t appear to corroborate his declare.

Briefly challenged by Hamilton, Antonelli pulled away and finally closed the hole to Norris, who himself was pressuring chief Russell. The sophomore attacked the McLaren on the final lap, across the outdoors in Flip 1, however couldn’t make the transfer stick, so the highest three remained unchanged.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photograph by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Pictures by way of Getty Pictures

Hamilton needed to withhold strain from Piastri and finally collapsed to sixth on the final lap, behind the Australian and Ferrari team-mate Leclerc. Verstappen completed seventh.

Hadjar ended up three laps down after two pitstops, which means Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad collected the final out there level after finishing the race on laborious tyres.

Additional again, Lance Stroll completed highest of all 5 vehicles which began from the pitlane, having encountered a entrance suspension situation shortly earlier than the beginning. Valtteri Bottas, Oliver Bearman, Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly had been in the identical beginning scenario however had been outraced by the Aston Martin.