Kimi Antonelli Wins Fourth Straight F1 Race in Montreal as Russell's Engine Fails

Russell's Heartbreak

Behind them, Lewis Hamilton delivered a strong drive for Ferrari, overtaking Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for second place with only six laps remaining. Hamilton, a seven-time winner of the Canadian Grand Prix, started the race from fourth on the grid.

Verstappen, who began sixth, had earlier passed Hamilton during the early laps but could not hold off the Ferrari on worn tires. The Dutchman settled for third, 11.276 seconds behind Antonelli.

The expected rain never materialized, and instead a complex tactical battle emerged. Before the start, drizzle left the track surface damp but not wet enough for intermediate tires.

Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull all opted for dry-weather tires, while McLaren gambled on intermediate rubber for both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. The decision backfired spectacularly.

Tactical Gambles Shape the Race

Norris surged from third to first off the line but was forced to pit after just a few laps to switch to dry tires, dropping far down the order. Piastri suffered the same fate and never recovered.

Norris, the reigning world champion, later retired with a transmission failure. Piastri finished 11th, just outside the points. A McLaren strategy error compounded the misery, costing both drivers numerous positions.

With Russell out, Antonelli cruised to the checkered flag unopposed. Yet the young Italian expressed mixed feelings. “So wollte ich nicht gewinnen,” he said on the team radio after the race, a German phrase meaning “I didn’t want to win like this.”

Antonelli's Unwanted Victory

The drama followed a tense sprint race on Saturday, where Russell and Antonelli almost collided and exchanged angry radio messages. Russell won that 100-kilometer dash, but the friction between the teammates simmered into Sunday’s main event.

Antonelli’s fourth consecutive victory extends Mercedes’ perfect start to the season. The team has now won all five Grands Prix, and the 19-year-old holds a commanding lead as the Formula 1 circus moves to the next round.