George Russell landed a double blow on team-mate Kimi Antonelli in Montreal as the gloves came off in the F1 title fight.
The 28-year-old beat his young team-mate to pole position by 0.068 seconds at the Canadian Gand Prix – the same margin as in sprint qualifying on Friday – after being accused of pushing Antonelli off the track in the earlier sprint race.
Russell saved his best lap for the end to claim a fifth successive pole for Mercedes and his third in a row in Montreal, with McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri claiming third and fourth.
The title scrap, which had been calm and civilised across the first four races, erupted during the sprint when Antonelli had to take to the grass after banging wheels when trying to overtake Russell at turn one.
Follow live updates with The Independent at the Canadian Grand Prix
F1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- Kimi Antonelli wins in Montreal; Hamilton 2nd; Verstappen 3rd
- OUT! Russell fumes as his engine fails
- OVERTAKE! Norris leads after super start
- PASS! Antonelli retakes lead after thrilling battle with Russell
- START DELAYED! Lindblad stalls on grid
Kimi Antonelli wins the Canadian Grand Prix
22:39 , Kieran Jackson
A fourth consecutive win for the Italian!
And that extends his world championship lead to 43 points to George Russell!
Lewis Hamilton holds on for second - his best grand prix position for Ferrari - with Max Verstappen in third.
4-10: Leclerc, Hadjar, Colapinto, Lawson, Gasly, Sainz, Bearman
Terrific race!
Final lap
22:37 , Kieran Jackson
Can Lewis hold Max off?
0.6 seconds is the gap.
Verstappen chasing Hamilton (Lap 66/68)
22:36 , Kieran Jackson
Max is not giving this up!
He’s stayed within a second of the Ferrari - can he get second back?
This should be box-office until the end!
Hamilton passes Verstappen (Lap 62/68)
22:31 , Kieran Jackson
Huge cheers in the grandstand as Hamilton uses his extra energy to pass Verstappen around the outside of turn 1!
Stunning move!
Hamilton up to second. This would be his highest grand prix finish for Ferrari...
Hamilton chasing down Verstappen (Lap 57/68)
22:24 , Kieran Jackson
Can Max hold off his great rival?
Hamilton now under a second behind and the Ferrari has more pace then the Red Bull.
2021 all over again!
Top-10 with 15 laps left
22:19 , Kieran Jackson
1. Antonelli - leader
2. Verstappen +7.1
3. Hamilton +2.6
4. Leclerc +16.7
5. Hadjar +1.0
6. Colapinto +54.6
7. Lawson +23.5
8. Gasly +0.5
9. Sainz +26.0
10. Bearman +3.9
Leclerc on radio:
22:16 , Kieran Jackson
Engineer: Hamilton quick 15.0.
Leclerc: “Let’s stop speaking until the last lap... and absolutely anything critical.”
Blimey, the Monegasque has had enough.
George Russell, speaking to Sky Sports;
22:15 , Kieran Jackson
“Everything turned off all of a sudden, engine stopped, no electronics or braking. Yeah, bit lost for words. Can’t really say much more.
“I’m proud of my weekend, pole and won the sprint, pole in qualifying, leading when I stopped, good battling with Kimi. Not much more I could have done this weekend, leave satisfied, obviously down and frustrated with what happened - what more could I do?
On racing with Kimi: “I loved it, really enjoyed it, felt like karting days, hard, close. Loved it. That’s what’s racing is about, loved to have continued it for 34 laps.”
VSC ends (Lap 46/68)
22:10 , Kieran Jackson
That was temporary, as a marshal quickly runs out to remove the debris from the final chicane area.
Back racing.
VSC deployed (Lap 46/68)
22:10 , Kieran Jackson
Virtual safety car, with the pit-entry closed.
Debris? Think so..
Perez out (Lap 43/68)
22:09 , Kieran Jackson
Bizarre situation with Cadillac’s Sergio Perez, with the right side of his front suspension suddenly braking!
That’s six drivers out: Perez, Norris, Russell, Alonso, Albon, Lindblad
Norris out (Lap 40/68)
22:02 , Kieran Jackson
Norris drives off track at turn 10 with a suspected gearbox issue!
A second British DNF!
Ah dear...
Brutal for Russell
21:56 , Kieran Jackson
HEARTBREAK FOR GEORGE! 😢💔#F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/vbnkl34w4X
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 24, 2026
Antonelli leads (Lap 33/68)
21:54 , Kieran Jackson
VSC period over with Russell’s car cleared, Antonelli is now out on his own in front with a 4.6-second lead over Max Verstappen in second.
3-10: Hamilton, Hadjar, Leclerc, Colapinto, Lawson, Gasly, Norris, Sainz
Russell had a power unit failure
21:53 , Kieran Jackson
Confirmation from Mercedes that Russell’s power unit simply failed.
Wow. No wonder he was fuming. A zero-point Sunday for the British driver.
Antonelli pits (Lap 32/68)
21:51 , Kieran Jackson
A lot of movement in the pit-lane - all the frontrunners pit.
How will this turn out?
George Russell is out! (lap 30/68)
21:49 , Kieran Jackson
Oh wow! Russell is raging!
He goes off track, across the grass and he stops at the side of the track!
He slams his Mercedes car and throws his gloves to the floor, shakes his head off track.
Antonelli back into the lead - VSC.
Top-10 after 27 laps
21:45 , Kieran Jackson
1. Russell - leader
2. Antonelli +0.5
3. Verstappen +6.0
4. Hamilton +4.8
5. Leclerc+2.3
6. Hadjar +1.7
7. Colapinto +26.4
8. Lawson +10.4
9. Gasly +7.1
10. Bearman +2.1
Russell and Antonelli touch (Lap 25/68)
21:42 , Kieran Jackson
The pair touch at the final chicane!
Russell just got ahead at turn 10 after an Antonelli lock-up, before the Italian storms past on the back straight.
Yet Antonelli goes straight at the chicane after some contact. He stays in the lead but is told to give it back!
Antonelli protests over radio, but does give it back!
Russell back in lead. Wow!
Antonelli leads (Lap 22/68)
21:39 , Kieran Jackson
Russel can defend no more!
Antonelli has too much pace this time down the back straight and the Italian surges ahead!
Brilliant front-of-the-pack racing!
Russell locks up again (Lap 18/68)
21:36 , Kieran Jackson
Thrilling racing!
Russell locked up at turn 10 again but somehow, the Brit defends down the back straight!
Both are honest and clean - Antonelli stays behind!
Norris pits (Lap 16/68)
21:31 , Kieran Jackson
What a disaster of a race this is proving to be for McLaren.
Norris, who went onto the grass after locking up, is told to box. They change tyres and try and get out some grass from th radiator.
He’s now down to 14th.
Albon out
21:29 , Kieran Jackson
Poor Alex!
Replays show Piastri just slammed into the inside of the Williams at turn 10!
Albon is out. Piastri is a lap down.
That may well be a penalty for the Australian too...
Russell and Antonelli battle (Lap 14/68)
21:28 , Kieran Jackson
Russell misses out at turn 10, before storming back down the back straight!
Antonelli right on the rear of his teammate - but they don’t touch yet!
Meanwhile, there’s a constant yellow flag at turn 10, with Piastri and Albon colliding.
Piastri pits again - and is almost a lap down!
Russell and Antonelli battle (Lap 14/68)
21:28 , Kieran Jackson
Russell misses out at turn 10, before storming back down the back straight!
Antonelli right on the rear of his teammate - but they don’t touch yet!
Meanwhile, there’s a constant yellow flag at turn 10, with Piastri and Albon colliding.
Piastri pits again - and is almost a lap down!
Norris now up to ninth (Lap 12/68)
21:26 , Kieran Jackson
Few places gained for Norris, who must be furious with that tyre decision at the start.
Top-10 after 10 laps
21:23 , Kieran Jackson
1. Russell - leader
2. Antonelli +1.0
3. Verstappen +3.4
4. Hamilton +0.8
5. Leclerc +1.5
6. Hadjar +2.6
7. Colapinto +12.6
8. Lawson +2.1
9. Bearman +7.3
10. Gasly +0.6
Max Verstappen up to third (Lap 9/68)
21:22 , Kieran Jackson
Verstappen just has too much speed for his arch rival as he swoops past Hamilton on the main straight - he’s up to third!
Hamilton: “I’ve got no power man, come on guys!”
Ah, Lewis...
George Russell takes lead (Lap 6/68)
21:19 , Kieran Jackson
Russell moves to the outside on the back straight and Antonelli locks up and has to go straight on at the chicane!
Russell comes through to take the lead! And Antonelli just about survives putting his car in the wall!
Kimi Antonelli leads (Lap 3/68)
21:13 , Kieran Jackson
Norris pits!
A much-needed stop for Norris, off the inters, but such a shame given his start!
Antonelli leads, with Russell 0.7 secs behind.
Piastri pits (lap 2/68)
21:12 , Kieran Jackson
Oscar had enough - he’s dived into the pits to get rid of those inters.
But Norris leads! How long can he hold it?
Top-10: Norris, Antonelli, Russell, Hamilton, Verstappen, Leclerc, Hadjar, Colapinto, Lawson, Hulkenberg
Lando Norris leads
21:11 , Kieran Jackson
Lights out and a stunning start for Norris!
He storms through down the inside at turn 1 and is up from third to first!
Russell drops to third, Antonelli holds second.
Extra formation lap
21:08 , Kieran Jackson
Makes sense. Lindblad’s car wasn’t quite off the grid, so they’ll head round once again.
Incidentally, Piastri is not happy about being on inters. It’s so dry!
Surely they’ll be so slow at the start?!
Lindblad's car wheeled off
21:07 , Kieran Jackson
Lindblad is out of this race - he can’t get his car into gear and he’s wheeled off the grid, just as the cars come back around.
Can we get going now?
Start procedure botched
21:04 , Kieran Jackson
What’s happened?
They were held on red lights forever! And they’ve put in an extra formation lap.
Is it because Arvid Lindblad has stalled? He’s remained on the grid.
Oscar Piastri:
21:02 , Kieran Jackson
“It feels like I’m floating around a bit on these tyres.”
Not surprised... it’s dry!
Formation lap
21:01 , Kieran Jackson
This is very rare - the top-6 are on a mix of tyres!
McLaren pairing of Norris and Piastri are on inters, with Russell, Antonelli, Hamilton and Verstappen on softs.
Surprise there’s inters on the grid. Interesting....
A reminder of the starting grid:
20:58 , Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell
2. Kimi Antonelli
3. Lando Norris
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Max Verstappen
7. Isack Hadjar
8. Charles Leclerc
9. Arvid Lindblad
10. Franco Colapinto
11. Nico Hulkenberg
12. Liam Lawson
13. Gabriel Bortoleto
14. Pierre Gasly
15. Carlos Sainz
16. Ollie Bearman
17. Esteban Ocon
18. Alex Albon
19. Fernando Alonso
20. Sergio Perez
21. Valtteri Bottas
Pit lane. Lance Stroll
Canadian Grand Prix
20:55 , Kieran Jackson
So, what will happen today?
George Russell on pole, Kimi Antonelli in second - will they clash again after yesterday’s sprint?
And will the weather play a part? Can McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull get in the mix?
I sure do hope so!
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff:
20:53 , Kieran Jackson
“Very slippery. Good for us, more interesting.
“What we’ve said is: race. Consider the other driver the competitor, not smooth sailing, won’t give each other a lot of room - that’s fine.”
Lando Norris, who starts P3:
20:50 , Kieran Jackson
“Conditions not very nice. It’s going to be interesting, I’ll just stay that.
“When you have more grip, a car which gives you more confidence, that’s what they have over us.
“Got to watch the Ferraris. We’ll do our best, make sure we’re there at the end of the race.”
Max Verstappen who starts sixth:
20:48 , Kieran Jackson
“Slippery when wet.”
You do seriously surprise me, Max.
Time for the Canadian national anthem:
20:46 , Kieran Jackson
Gregory Charles and his choir Noveau sing the anthem on the grid, with Lance Stroll the sole Canadian representative out of the 22 drivers.
Franco Colapinto:
20:43 , Kieran Jackson
“It is very slippery.”
Inters or slicks?
Lando: “It’s going to be sliding.”
Ex-F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, speaking on the Montreal grid:
20:39 , Kieran Jackson
“This will be an amazing race because of the conditions, being in the front here with no reference, so easy to make a mistake.”
Drivers head out on inters
20:34 , Kieran Jackson
Not sure how long these will last.
Most of the drivers head out on the reconnaissance laps on intermediates, but it looks dry enough for slicks to me.
Indeed, Max Verstappen the first to switch. Of course, they can switch their tyres right up to lights out.
Top-10 driver standings ahead of Canada GP:
20:30 , Kieran Jackson
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 106 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 88 points
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 63 points
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 58 points
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 54 points
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 48 points
7. Max Verstappen Red Bull) - 28 points
8. Ollie Bearman (Haas) - 17 points
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 16 points
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 10 points
Infantino in Montreal
20:25 , Kieran Jackson
Less than three weeks out from the World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is in Montreal.
He posed next to Isack Hadjar and the Red Bull team, alongside the trophy.
The World Cup pays a visit to the paddock 🏆 pic.twitter.com/RHC0OrDi7L
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 24, 2026
Driver parade pics
20:22 , Kieran Jackson
It’s overcast but not soaking as it stands in Montreal.
If the rain comes later, when will it?
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli:
20:14 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s going to be important to try and get the maximum out of the formation lap, try and build temperatures in the tyres, going to be interesting - very challenging and see what the weather will be like.
“We had a meeting yesterday and we clarified about everything; it’s all good.”
Oscar Piastri, who qualified fourth:
20:08 , Kieran Jackson
"We are closer to Mercedes and were able to put some pressure on them, but unfortunately, it was just not quite enough. The rain tomorrow can mix things up, so it will be an opportunity for us all - let's see what we can do."
Constructor standings ahead of Canadian GP
20:00 , Kieran Jackson
1. Mercedes - 194 points
2. Ferrari - 117 points
3. McLaren - 106 points
4. Red Bull - 32 points
5. Alpine - 23 points
6. Haas - 18 points
7. Racing Bulls - 15 points
8. Williams - 5 points
9. Audi - 2 points
10. Cadillac - 0 points
11. Aston Martin - 0 points
Lewis Hamilton after qualifying fifth:
19:50 , Kieran Jackson
“The guys at the factory have done an amazing job with the car, it’s fantastic. It’s a battle of development throughout the season, we’re just at the mercy at the lack of power we have. ,
“When you’re lacking that straight-line speed against the Merc, it’s very tough. We’ll just try and close the gap, quicker through corners, maybe we can get quicker.”
Max Verstappen after qualifying sixth:
19:40 , Kieran Jackson
“I have no idea what’s going on, everything is so confusing, the setup changes we made I didn’t like. Very confusing, everything.
On the race on Sunday: “It’s going to be chaos, regardless. It’s not only tough, everything is confusing, not really a lot of words.”
George Russell after qualifying on pole in Canada:
19:30 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s always challenging coming back from the sprint race, car feels different. That last lap came from nowhere, such a great feeling when it was such a challenging session.
“We made some changes based on the forecast for tomorrow, may have hurt us a little bit. Kimi was definitely more competitive than I in that session, but just managed to redial my driving for that last lap.
“We’ve had a good chat since this morning, we both respect one another, we’ll go racing. Tomorrow looks to be wet, we just want to ensure we’ll be standing on the top step.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella:
19:15 , Kieran Jackson
“Looking ahead to the race, we are realistic. In dry conditions, Mercedes likely has the edge, but we have put ourselves in a strong position. Canada is always an eventful race, and with the potential for mixed weather, anything is possible.
“We haven’t had much wet running this season, which adds an unknown element, but if it rains opportunities will arise, and we will be there to give it our absolute best and challenge for the win.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff:
19:00 , Kieran Jackson
“We made some set-up changes in expectation of cooler conditions tomorrow and that made the car more difficult for the drivers in Qualifying. We saw several cars looking like they would be fastest, and it all came down to tyre preparation.
“We learnt a lot during the session and were able to put it all together come our final laps. Both George and Kimi did a great job and that gives us the best possible starting positions, and opportunity to fight for victory, on Sunday.”
Kimi Antonelli after qualifying P2:
18:30 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s always a bit hard to commit for lap one, it’s been difficult this weekend with tyres, pretty happy - still a bit left on the table, George did a great lap, onto tomorrow.
“We’ll see what the weather is going to be like - ready for anything.”
Full F1 starting grid:
18:00 , Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell
2. Kimi Antonelli
3. Lando Norris
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Max Verstappen
7. Isack Hadjar
8. Charles Leclerc
9. Arvid Lindblad
10. Franco Colapinto
11. Nico Hulkenberg
12. Liam Lawson
13. Gabriel Bortoleto
14. Pierre Gasly
15. Carlos Sainz
16. Ollie Bearman
17. Esteban Ocon
18. Alex Albon
19. Fernando Alonso
20. Sergio Perez
21. Lance Stroll
22. Valtteri Bottas
George Russell, who took pole:
17:00 , Kieran Jackson
“It wasn't just McLaren that put us under pressure in Qualifying. Ferrari and Red Bull were also in the fight for pole as we were struggling to get the tyres working and struggling with a temperature imbalance across the axles.
“I was lacking confidence throughout the session, but the team did a great job to nail our tyre preparation in Q3 and give us the chance to take pole position.
“We're expecting cooler conditions, along with some rain, so we don't fully know what to expect. We will do all the necessary preparation though and hopefully we can end the weekend on a high by fighting for the win.”
McLaren's Lando Norris, who qualified third:
16:00 , Kieran Jackson
“The race will be interesting, on a cold, low‑speed street track it’s incredibly hard to build tyre temperature, and if it’s wet it will be chaotic, but that also means opportunities.
“On pure pace Mercedes still have the edge, especially over a race stint, but if conditions mix things up, we’ll be ready to fight and take any chances that come our way. We’ve made smart setup tweaks, the car’s consistent, and if we execute well there’s a lot to play for.”
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, speaking after qualifying:
15:00 , Kieran Jackson
It was a tight session especially in the end, as Lewis was running P2 after the first runs in Q3. Unfortunately he didn't manage to put everything together on his final attempt. It’s a pity because the pace was there and we could have aimed for a stronger result.
“Now the focus shifts to tomorrow, when we could face a very different challenge. So far we have never raced these cars on these new tyres in wet conditions, which means teams and drivers will need to learn very quickly, even on the laps to the grid. That could make for a very open race.”
Honda react to Aston Martin's struggles:
14:00 , Kieran Jackson
Shintaro Orihara, Trackside General Manager and Chief Engineer: “We haven’t had any major power unit issues in today’s Sprint race and qualifying. We learnt items on the energy management and driveability sides at this new track, mainly on the torque delivery. After the Sprint we updated our mapping and made changes to driveability for qualifying.
“For tomorrow, there is a high possibility for wet conditions, and we are interested to see how our power unit performs and what driveability will be. We have been making some fine-tuning to give the drivers confidence in the rain, so we will see how this is going to go tomorrow.
Franco Colapinto, who qualified P10:
13:00 , Kieran Jackson
“In qualifying we were near Arvid again, and they looked very strong today, so P10 was probably the best we could have hoped for. It puts us in a good position for tomorrow and with the performance we showed in the Sprint I'm confident we can achieve a good result if the weather is consistent.
“We know rain is also forecast, which is an unknown for everyone, and we'll do our best and react to what happens in the race tomorrow.”
Arvid Lindblad, who qualified P9:
12:00 , Kieran Jackson
"Today has been really positive and the team have done an incredible job bringing this upgrade to help me feel comfortable in the car. Every lap we’ve done this weekend has been very competitive, and I’m happy with my lap in Q3. There was probably a little more time to extract, but when the top teams put everything together, they're able to secure the top spots.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow. I always enjoy racing in the wet, and with rain in the forecast, we’ll deal with whatever comes our way in the moment. A huge thank you to the team, and now all eyes are on tomorrow."
Charles Leclerc, who could only put his car eighth on the grid:
06:00 , Kieran Jackson
In the Sprint, I think we paid the price for our starting position. The pace felt good but I got stuck behind Oscar (Piastri) who was very fast on the straights.Qualifying did not go well for me. I just struggled to put the tyres in the right window and was sliding around in Q1 and Q2.
“In Q3, I managed to gain some confidence and felt a bit better in the car, but that final position isn’t what we are aiming for. I think the race will be tricky for everyone, especially if it is wet, so we will have to see how things unfold tomorrow.”
QUALIFYING REPORT: George Russell basks in ‘exhilarating’ Canada GP pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli
01:00 , Kieran Jackson
George Russell landed a double blow on team-mate Kimi Antonelli in Montreal as the gloves came off in the F1 title fight.
The 28-year-old beat his young team-mate to pole position by 0.068 seconds at the Canadian Gand Prix – the same margin as in sprint qualifying on Friday – after being accused of pushing Antonelli off the track in the earlier sprint race.
Russell saved his best lap for the end to claim a fifth successive pole for Mercedes and his third in a row in Montreal, with McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri claiming third and fourth.
Full report below:
George Russell basks in ‘exhilarating’ Canada GP pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli
What time is the race?
Saturday 23 May 2026 22:56 , Kieran Jackson
The Canadian Grand Prix - with wet weather on the radar - is scheduled to start at 9pm BST.
Lando Norris after qualifying third:
Saturday 23 May 2026 22:45 , Kieran Jackson
“We did a good job out there today honestly - it’s a difficult track to put everything together perfectly.
“It’s nice to be closer than yesterday, the weather will be different tomorrow, we’re where we need to be.”
Top-10 in Montreal:
Saturday 23 May 2026 22:18 , Kieran Jackson
1. George Russell
2. Kimi Antonelli
3. Lando Norris
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Max Verstappen
7. Isack Hadjar
8. Charles Leclerc
9. Arvid Lindblad
10. Franco Colapinto
George Russell over team radio:
Saturday 23 May 2026 22:09 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s the most exhilarating feeling in the world when it comes late out of nowhere!”
Big moment for Russell that!
George Russell on pole!
Saturday 23 May 2026 22:02 , Kieran Jackson
Russell gets it done - just!
Russell pips Antonelli by 0.068 secs! So close!
Lando Norris in third, a tenth back.
4-10: Piastri, Hamilton, Verstappen, Hadjar, Leclerc, Lindblad, Colapinto
Max Verstappen:
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:54 , Kieran Jackson
“What is up with the straight-line speed? It’s just absolutely s***.”
Max not happy...
Lando Norris on provisional pole
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:54 , Kieran Jackson
Interesting.
Norris goes top, while Hamilton is second and Piastri third.
George Russell came into the pits - he’s struggling for grip.
4-10: Antonelli, Leclerc, Verstappen, Lindblad, Colapinto, Hadjar, Russell
All to do for Mercedes in Q3!
Q3 underway
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:48 , Kieran Jackson
Here we go then - time for the top-10 shootout!
Drivers: Norris, Piastri, Russell, Antonelli, Leclerc, Hamilton, Verstappen, Hadjar, Colapinto, Lindblad
Lindblad makes Q3
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:42 , Kieran Jackson
Arvid Lindblad and Franco Colapinto are the surprise names in the top-10!
Bottom-six and out in Q2 (11-16): Hulkenberg, Lawson, Bortoleto, Gasly, Sainz, Bearman
Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar is the surprise name at the top after Q2! The Frenchman pips Hamilton, Norris and Antonelli - all seperated by just a tenth!
Carlos Sainz heading out
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:38 , Kieran Jackson
Can the Spaniard find some time at the end?
Current bottom-six (11-16): Colapinto, Sainz, Lawsno, Bortoleto, Bearmna, Gasly
2:00 to go in Q1.
Leclerc in early bottom-six
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:34 , Kieran Jackson
The Ferrari man has been struggling for pace around here so far.
Verstappen, meanwhile, says he’s “driving on ice” with some front-tyre temperature difficulties.
Q2 underway
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:25 , Kieran Jackson
Again, a big queue at the end of the pit-lane, with 15 minutes to decide our top-10 make-up.
Alex Albon out in Q1
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:21 , Kieran Jackson
Bit of a shock - the Williams driver misses out on the rest of qualifying!
Bottom-six (17-22) and out in Q1: Ocon, Albon, Alonso, Perez, Stroll, Bottas
Bortoleto in trouble
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:16 , Kieran Jackson
As it stands, both Audi drivers are joining both Cadillac and Aston Martins out in Q1
2:00 left. Will we have a late shake-up?
Leclerc up to P9
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:12 , Kieran Jackson
A much-needed banker lap completed by Leclerc, which puts him ninth-fastest.
Here’s the state of play with six minutes left in Q1:
Bottom-six (17-22): Bortoleto, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Stroll, Gasly
Alex Albon the man living precariously at the moment in 16th...
George Russell:
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:08 , Kieran Jackson
“I’m not sure why, the ride has felt a lot worse to yesterday.”
The Mercedes man is fourth-fastest early on.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, has a time deleted and is rooted to the bottom of the timesheet.
10:00 left in Q1...
Q1 underway
Saturday 23 May 2026 21:01 , Kieran Jackson
Fairly lengthy queue at the end of the pit-lane for the start of qualifying at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
18 minutes where we’ll lose the slowest six. Can Cadillac and Aston Martin progress?
Qualifying in Montreal
Saturday 23 May 2026 20:58 , Kieran Jackson
Big moments this, then, as we set the grid for tomorrow’s grand prix.
George Russell is favourite, but can Kimi Antonelli pip him this time?
And which team out of McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull can push the leading Mercedes duo hardest?
George Russell on his crash with Antonelli:
Saturday 23 May 2026 20:53 , Kieran Jackson
"It was tense, it was close, but from my side it was just close, hard racing. I don't think I did anything wrong.
"There was nothing untoward with the driving and it wasn't even investigated. So that says enough."
Max Verstappen insists he will stay in F1 next season:
Saturday 23 May 2026 20:46 , Kieran Jackson
"Yes, definitely," he told De Telegraaf in Canada. "Unless very crazy things happen, but I don't assume that.
"I hope everyone keeps their word, but I can confirm that I will stay in Formula 1.
"I would not take a sabbatical, I'm not the person for that. If I stop, I stop completely. That's just not on the cards right now.
"The ratio of combustion engine to electric engine will then be about 60:40, a bit depending on the track. It's not quite right yet, but it is a step in the right direction, and certainly an improvement over the current situation."
How Lewis Hamilton is seeking to evoke Arsenal’s success with Ferrari in Canada
Saturday 23 May 2026 20:39 , Kieran Jackson
For all the celebratory messages of jubilation emanating from the never-ending group of high-profile Arsenal supporters this week – from Sir Keir Starmer and Hugh Lawrie to Piers Morgan and Jess Glynne – Lewis Hamilton’s repost on Instagram was altogether more understated. “COYG,” the 41-year-old said, the common abbreviation for “Come on you Gunners.”
An Arsenal fan since he was five, Hamilton’s football fandom hit the realms of public discourse again four years ago, when he was part of a group of investors which, ultimately, failed to buy Chelsea. Many onlookers seemed stunned, not least Hamilton’s fierce rival Max Verstappen. “I am a PSV fan and I would never buy Ajax,” the Dutchman quipped, before adding: “I thought he was an Arsenal fan? And if you are an Arsenal fan going for Chelsea, that is quite interesting.”
Alas, it never materialised. Hamilton has also dipped his toes in the world of NFL, joining the Denver Broncos ownership group in 2022 after missing out on the Chelsea gig. And the Briton, seven times a champion of the world but only twice a grand prix race winner in the last four years and counting, would be wise to take a leaf out of as many sports as possible in his search for one final rebirth at the top of Formula 1.
Full piece below:
How Lewis Hamilton is seeking to evoke Arsenal’s success with Ferrari in Canada
Top-10 driver standings after the sprint
Saturday 23 May 2026 20:30 , Kieran Jackson
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 106 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 88 points
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 63 points
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 58 points
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 54 points
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 48 points
7. Max Verstappen Red Bull) - 28 points
8. Ollie Bearman (Haas) - 17 points
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 16 points
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 10 points
F1 legend Alain Prost reportedly injured during armed robbery at home
Saturday 23 May 2026 20:19 , Kieran Jackson
Some sad news earlier today - four-time F1 world champion Alain Prost reportedly sustained a head injury during an alleged robbery in his Swiss home earlier this week.
According to a report in Swiss tabloid Blick late on Friday, the 71-year-old Prost suffered a head injury from intruders who forced his son to open a safe during the robbery on Tuesday morning.
Swiss police are now investigating the incident.
More detail below:
F1 legend Alain Prost reportedly injured during armed robbery at home
Constructor standings after sprint race:
Saturday 23 May 2026 20:12 , Kieran Jackson
1. Mercedes - 194 points
2. Ferrari - 117 points
3. McLaren - 106 points
4. Red Bull - 32 points
5. Alpine - 23 points
6. Haas - 18 points
7. Racing Bulls - 15 points
8. Williams - 5 points
9. Audi - 2 points
10. Cadillac - 0 points
11. Aston Martin - 0 points
Fernando Alonso resigned to Aston Martin F1 debacle: ‘It’s going to feel repetitive’
Saturday 23 May 2026 20:06 , Kieran Jackson
Asked if the next race in Canada will bring about improvement, Alonsi said: "No, let's see. I think we will make steps on that drivability point of view.
“Performance: not. So we need to stick together with the team. It's going to be a very tough, tough race.”
Jenson Button explains what Lewis Hamilton must do to secure Ferrari future
Saturday 23 May 2026 19:57 , Kieran Jackson
"Obviously, last year was not the easiest for Lewis. He spent so many years in a team (Mercedes) that he knew really well, and had a lot of support from that team. Then, you go to a different team that is based in Italy, and he doesn’t speak Italian. He doesn’t have that on his side, whereas his team-mate does."
The 2009 world champion added: "So, it does take a minute to get used to it, especially at 40 years old when learning is a lot more difficult than it is in your twenties. But it has been really good to see him competitive this year, and fighting with Charles."
Button emphasised the importance of current form, as he claimed, "as long as you’re competitive the (external) noise doesn’t really matter. If he is as quick as he thinks he should be, then it is fine, and it doesn’t matter what other people say from the outside. If he is doing a job that he thinks is good enough, then he will have that confidence and want to carry on if he is enjoying it."
Formula 1 misses Christian Horner, says FIA president: ‘He will be back’
Saturday 23 May 2026 19:44 , Kieran Jackson
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem believes Formula 1 misses Christian Horner as the former Red Bull team boss explores a return to the sport this year.
Horner, 52, is eyeing a route back into the sport after his sacking from Red Bull last summer, following two decades of success leading the outfit as team principal. He won 14 F1 world championships in total.
The British executive has been linked with Alpine – and is part of a consortium which has bid for a minority stake in the team, alongside a pitch from Mercedes – as well as Aston Martin and even the top job at Ferrari.
Ben Sulayem has met with Horner in recent months, most notably at a dinner alongside Horner’s fierce rival Zak Brown, and believes the ex-Red Bull boss will be back in the paddock soon.
Full quotes below:
Formula 1 misses Christian Horner, says FIA president: ‘He will be back’
‘Get used to it’ – Lewis Hamilton insists he is staying put in Formula One
Saturday 23 May 2026 19:33 , Kieran Jackson
The 41-year-old insists his future is clear in his mind.
“I am still under contract so everything is 100 per cent clear to me,” Hamilton said ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
“I’m still focused, I’m still motivated and I still love what I do with all my heart.
“I’m going to be here for quite some time so get used to it. There are people that are trying to retire me and that is not even in my thoughts.
“I’m already thinking of what will be next and planning for the next five years but I still plan to be here for some time.”
What time is qualifying in Montreal?
Saturday 23 May 2026 19:18 , Kieran Jackson
After the drama of the sprint race, qualifying is at 9pm (BST).
VIDEO: Russell-Antonelli incident
Saturday 23 May 2026 19:09 , Kieran Jackson
THE SCENES!! 🤯
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 23, 2026
Russell and Antonelli fight for the lead once again! 👀#F1Sprint #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/N12CkUS0RF
Lewis Hamilton on dropping to sixth from fourth:
Saturday 23 May 2026 18:58 , Kieran Jackson
"Piastri got alongside me into the last corner and he overtook, and then through that, I lost position to Charles," said Hamilton.
Lando Norris, after finishing second:
Saturday 23 May 2026 18:39 , Kieran Jackson
It was a good race, was good to watch them to go at it for a while and we were there to pick up the pieces. They were quick, Kimi caught me back up pretty quickly, so I was looking behind and looking to attack ahead.
“It was fun, always a tough track to push on and easy to make mistakes but yeah, today was a good result for us."
George Russell:
Saturday 23 May 2026 18:22 , Kieran Jackson
"It eas a cool race, difficult to get a gap around here. Slipstream was powerful, good battle with Kimi, glad we are both standing here after the race. Miami was a bogey track for me.
“Ultimately I want to get back racing and make sure the season starts now, want to get back into the groove, appreciate that.”
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
