Formulation One chief Kimi Antonelli charged to victory in a wild Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, claiming his fourth-straight race win after teammate George Russell exited because of engine failure.
The title-chasing Mercedes drivers placed on a present in an exhilarating battle via 30 laps, buying and selling the lead a number of instances and coming dangerously shut to creating contact, till catastrophe struck for Russell.
“The Mercedes combating, I’m glad they allow them to race as a result of it was enjoyable to look at,” mentioned Henry, certainly one of many followers gathered at Peel Pub to look at the race.
The 28-year-old Brit threw his headrest throughout the monitor and slammed his fists into the entrance of the automotive earlier than leaving the circuit, whipping his gloves to the bottom in rage.
That gave Antonelli a transparent path to victory forward of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who overtook Purple Bull’s Max Verstappen for second with six laps to go beneath chilly and windy circumstances at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
“He was so forward of everybody else, Antonelli, that everybody was simply targeted on P2 and P3,” mentioned Navid.
A 19-year-old Italian sensation, Antonelli joined multi-time world champions Fernando Alonso, Hamilton and Verstappen as the one lively drivers to win 4 consecutive races.
“It’s fascinating to see how younger he’s and the way he began so quick and he’s already up there beating Russell,” Henry added.
“He’s very younger and really robust,” mentioned Arnaud.
He opened up a 43-point lead over Russell within the drivers’ standings via 5 of twenty-two stops this season.
Hamilton earned his greatest end result since becoming a member of Ferrari final yr, whereas Verstappen reached the rostrum for the primary time this season.
“I’m an enormous Lewis Hamilton fan, that overtake was wonderful,” Navid mentioned after Hamilton’s late go for second place.
Russell’s exit marked a nightmare finish to an in any other case stellar weekend for final yr’s winner in Montreal, who took Saturday’s dash race for pole and likewise began first on Sunday.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed fourth, adopted by Purple Bull’s Isack Hadjar, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Williams’ Carlos Sainz Jr. and Haas’ Oliver Bearman stuffed out the highest 10.
McLaren began with each drivers within the second row however Lando Norris was pressured to retire from a gearbox difficulty on Lap 40. Teammate Oscar Piastri positioned eleventh after a crew choice to start out on intermediate tires backfired.
“I wasn’t anticipating McLaren to do this dangerous,” Navid mentioned.
It was spitting rain a lot of the day as temperatures hovered round 14 C, however the inclement climate subsided earlier than the race.
Norris flew from third to first off an thrilling begin on a drying monitor, solely to change tires three laps in. That ceded the result in Antonelli, who’d additionally moved previous Russell following the pole-sitter’s poor begin.
Russell regained the lead on the seventh lap with a clear overtake as Antonelli almost hit his teammate from behind after his wheels locked up, rolling off the monitor.
The combating continued into Lap 12 as Antonelli superior to first, just for Russell to re-take his place earlier than heading off a number of overtake makes an attempt on Lap 17.
Antonelli efficiently pulled it off on the twenty second lap, however Russell once more charged again into the lead when Antonelli veered off beam two laps later. The exchanges endured till Russell’s engine blew out.
The Mercedes drivers had gone head-to-head all weekend within the quickest automobiles on the grid, with Russell edging Antonelli by 0.068 seconds in each the dash and race qualifying periods.
Tensions reached a tipping level early in Saturday’s dash race after they made contact on Antonelli’s overtake try, as Russell stored his line and compelled Antonelli into the grass. Antonelli misplaced his cool over the crew radio, calling the transfer “very naughty” earlier than demanding a penalty.
Stewards didn’t examine the incident, however Antonelli had the final snicker on Sunday and prolonged his championship lead.
“It’s only the start for him,” mentioned Ricardo, who referred to as Antonelli’s efficiency at 19 years outdated “very spectacular.”
Montreal’s Lance Stroll, the lone Canadian on the 22-driver grid, completed a season-best fifteenth after beginning the race from the pit lane as six drivers retired.
Followers packed the grandstands at Parc Jean-Drapeau and bars throughout town because the checkered flag dropped on a chaotic race.
“It was lots of destruction, which I’m right here for,” mentioned Tim, who travelled from Vermont for the race. “It was superior.”
The Canadian GP passed off weeks sooner than its conventional mid-June slot as a part of an F1 calendar designed to cut back journey.
The race intersected with a Canadiens playoff run for the primary time, with bleu-blanc-rouge colors mixing with Ferrari crimson and McLaren orange downtown and throughout the paddock, creating an particularly vibrant environment within the metropolis.
Some 360,000 followers, together with FIFA president Gianni Infantino in a Canadiens jersey, attended the three-day occasion, with spectators braving the wet climate to fill the grandstands on Sunday.
The celebrated Monaco Grand Prix, set for June 7, is subsequent on the F1 circuit.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Might 24, 2026.
–With information from Lola Kalder
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