F1’s annual go to to Quebec is never freed from drama or controversy, however by bringing the Montreal race ahead within the 12 months Might put the race’s destiny within the laps of Canada’s climate gods greater than ever. However regardless of the chilly circumstances and the specter of rain which by no means actually materialised, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve served up an absorbing spectacle with duels throughout the highest six, and a pricey retirement which can change the face of the 2026 title battle.
Loser – McLaren
The prospect of F1 2026’s first wet-weather race saved a number of groups up at night time, however as drizzle continued all through race morning, the skies cleared up proper initially of the race. That caught out a number of groups, with McLaren the principle offender as its advantageous beginning place meant the selection for intermediate tyres on each vehicles was fairly the gamble.
Whereas capitalising on a grip benefit initially to leap into the chief, third-starting Lando Norris quickly needed to put, as did Oscar Piastri, who already had misgivings concerning the group’s selection within the formation lap.
Hindsight is an excellent factor, and the 2 additional formation laps did not assist McLaren as they additional negated any early benefit the group may have had. However then issues went from dangerous to worse when Piastri clattered into Alex Albon and Norris disappeared from the race with a mechanical failure, making certain McLaren would end exterior the factors. A weekend to overlook, though the group could have been considerably inspired by its efficiency relative to Mercedes.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Picture by: Andy Hone/ LAT Photos through Getty Photos
Winner – Kimi Antonelli
Antonelli retains prompting revisions to the historical past books after being the first-ever driver to open his win account with 4 consecutive grand prix wins. The 19-year-old continues to impress this 12 months along with his maturity, you do not want us to let you know that. However what’s particularly intriguing is to see that course of happen in real-time.
This week’s class in his crash course on the right way to change into a world champion taught {the teenager} what it will likely be like racing his team-mate wheel-to-wheel this 12 months. In Saturday’s dash, Antonelli appeared stunned at how forcefully Russell defended his place, which after the streak Antonelli is on shouldn’t be a shock. There was no such naivety on Sunday as he and Russell traded the lead in an absorbing duel, just for Russell to drop out with engine bother.
Loser – George Russell
That now opens up a 43-point hole within the standings, which shifts the tide towards Antonelli on a circuit that’s certainly one of Russell’s favourites. It is nonetheless very early with 17 rounds to go, as final season’s title battle confirmed us. However 43 factors is beginning to exceed the “good to have” bracket and feels vital as early as Might.
Russell did what he needed to do by profitable the dash, and he was main Antonelli when he disappeared from Sunday’s race. So, given the momentum that had been swinging in the direction of his youthful team-mate, you’ll be able to perceive his crestfallen response as he threw away his headrest, an motion he apologised for and for which he was handed a suspended 5,000 euro high quality.
George Russell, Mercedes
Picture by: Brett Farmer / LAT Photos through Getty Photos
Winner – Lewis Hamilton
Amid all of the hoopla round how a lot simulator work Lewis Hamilton does or would not do, it seems his greatest two outcomes of the 12 months have are available China and Canada – two weekends Hamilton determined to forgo a digital prep spherical. That does not imply Hamilton would not do any sim work in any respect, as he typically heads in post-weekend to evaluate what he may have executed higher, resembling after Japan the place he wasn’t deploying his vitality in addition to team-mate Charles Leclerc.
A person with twenty years of F1 expertise and 7 world titles most likely is aware of what works for him by now, and he actually found out what labored in Montreal as he got here out on prime what he hailed as an pleasant cat-and-mouse recreation with Max Verstappen.
That is most likely one of the best – and the happiest – Hamilton has regarded in crimson.
Loser – Alex Albon
When your season has been derailed by a troubled growth and manufacturing schedule that left the group on the again foot, you typically simply want a fortunate break. In Canada, the other occurred with Alex Albon, who suffered an unlucky encounter with a groundhog on Friday and was taken out of the race by Oscar Piastri on the hairpin.
Given the excessive attrition in Montreal, that robbed Albon of a clear-cut scoring alternative so as to add to his two factors collected in Melbourne and Miami.
Albon’s 2026 season feels cursed proper now, however the silver lining is that he is going by way of it whereas the Williams group is struggling for tempo earlier than deliberate aero growth and weight financial savings arrive to enhance the automobile.
Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Picture by: Andrej Ivanov / AFP through Getty Photos
Winner – Franco Colapinto
Whether or not it’s right down to Alpine’s upgrades or not, no matter group Enstone has executed to make Franco Colapinto extra snug within the 2026 automobile has labored, as he backed up a career-best seventh in Miami with one other career-best sixth in Montreal.
Staff-mate Pierre Gasly struggled, for causes which Alpine continues to be wanting into, though attrition nonetheless allowed him to financial institution factors on Sunday. In distinction, Colapinto has been firing on all cylinders and that is regardless of solely doing one lap of free observe in Canada’s dash weekend, which put the Argentine on the again foot. Having stated that, the 22-year-old was fortunate to get away with going off at pit exit on chilly exhausting tyres and tapping the obstacles.
Coming into the 12 months, it felt like Colapinto was going to be on a brief leash with group advisor Flavio Briatore. Over the month of Might he has constructed up some a lot wanted credit score heading into the European a part of the season.
Chatting with us after the race, group boss Steve Nielsen summed it up greatest: “I can not faux I do know what’s modified with Franco, however no matter it’s, let’s hold going…”
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