A furious George Russell retired from the Canadian Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli claimed a fourth successive win to extend his championship lead after a pulsating battle with his title rival.
The Mercedes pair exchanged the lead multiple times throughout a breathless opening 30 laps, as they again made contact a day on from colliding during Saturday’s sprint, before an electrical issue dealt a major blow to Russell’s title hopes.
COMMENT: George Russell won’t like it – but one driver can show him way forward after F1 title blow
Antonelli leaves an incident-packed weekend in Canada with a 43-point lead over Russell, who was left stood furious at the side of the track as he came to terms with the repercussions.
Lewis Hamilton claimed his best result for Ferrari in second as he overcame a battle with Max Verstappen, who secured a first podium of the season.
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
- Antonelli's lead is now 43 points over Russell
- Click HERE for the top-10 in Montreal
- OUT! Russell fumes as his engine fails
- PASS! Antonelli retakes lead after thrilling battle with Russell
COMMENT: George Russell won’t like it – but one driver can show him way forward after F1 title blow
13:00 , Kieran Jackson
There was a time in George Russell’s seven-year Formula 1 career that he could afford a cruel instance of racing misfortune. In fact, every single one of those seasons, before this 2026 campaign. But not now. Not amidst an intra-team championship battle which, to his utter dismay, is currently only heading in one direction.
Yet one man’s chagrin is another man’s exultation. For Kimi Antonelli, life does not get any better right now. Not only did he claim his fourth victory in a row on the streets of Montreal – the first driver ever to win their first four races consecutively – but he stood on top of the podium alongside two of the sport’s greats and two of his closest mentors: Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Want to wipe the smile off the 19-year-old’s face? Good luck with that.
Piece below:
Russell won’t like it – but one driver can show him way forward after F1 title blow
Constructor standings after Canadian GP
12:00 , Kieran Jackson
1. Mercedes - 219 points
2. Ferrari - 147 points
3. McLaren - 106 points
4. Red Bull - 57 points
5. Alpine - 35 points
6. Racing Bulls - 21 points
7. Haas - 19 points
8. Williams - 7 points
9. Audi - 2 points
10. Cadillac - 0 points
11. Aston Martin - 0 points
VIDEO: Hamilton on Verstappen
11:00 , Kieran Jackson
Lewis Hamilton with the late overtake on Max Verstappen to snatch second place in Montreal! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/mmgc20TBGD
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 24, 2026
Russell after Antonelli win:
09:00 , Kieran Jackson
Russell feels the pressure is now off him in the title scrap and reflected on misfortune he also felt cost him in China and Japan.
“Right now it’s (Antonelli’s) to lose,” Russell said.
“So many points ahead, it feels like the gods don’t want me to be in this fight.
“The pressure is off, I’ll go out and enjoy every single race, try and win every single race and I’ve got nothing to lose.
“I don’t want to be stood here talking like that and of course I’m frustrated and want to be in that fight… hopefully the luck turns.”
Isack Hadjar, after finishing P5:
08:01 , Kieran Jackson
“It’s just about - where has the pace gone?
“Yesterday I felt awesome, today I was reallt struggling.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff
07:00 , Kieran Jackson
“As a team, we have had so many situations where it was bittersweet. We are extremely happy for one driver and deserving and then you feel gutted for the other one. It is difficult.
"But in any way, Kimi has done a splendid job today and deserves the win. But George, it is a shame because he was in the lead of the race. We half-enjoyed watching them, how they fought it out and we wished we would have had a one-two."
"Every time, when we have thought about saying 'we've had enough for the moment', the next two laps were fast again. As long as we maintain that gap it was OK watching it but obviously it can go wrong. Not because one wants to hit the other one."
Top-10 - driver standings
06:00 , Kieran Jackson
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 131 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 88 points
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 75 points
4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 72 points
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 58 points
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 48 points
7. Max Verstappen Red Bull) - 43 points
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 20 points
9. Ollie Bearman (Haas) - 18 points
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 16 points
RACE REPORT: George Russell rages after engine failure as Kimi Antonelli extends F1 title lead in Canada
04:00 , Kieran Jackson
A furious George Russell retired from the Canadian Grand Prix as Kimi Antonelli claimed a fourth successive win to extend his championship lead after a pulsating battle with his title rival.
The Mercedes pair exchanged the lead multiple times throughout a breathless opening 30 laps, as they again made contact a day on from colliding during Saturday’s sprint, before an electrical issue dealt a major blow to Russell’s title hopes.
Antonelli leaves an incident-packed weekend in Canada with a 43-point lead over Russell, who was left stood furious at the side of the track as he came to terms with the repercussions.
Lewis Hamilton claimed his best result for Ferrari in second as he overcame a battle with Max Verstappen, who secured a first podium of the season.
Full report below:
George Russell rages after engine failure as Kimi Antonelli extends F1 lead in Canada
Max Verstappen after finishing third:
02:00 , Kieran Jackson
“Had some cool battles, racing up front is better. Kept pushing until the line, for us to be on the podium here is very positive, naturally very happy with that.
“Keep working and improving more than our competition and carry on.”
Lewis Hamilton after finishing second:
01:00 , Kieran Jackson
“To finally find our sweet spot, it’s an amazing feeling to be back up here. Had a race with Max which was great.
“I love this track.
“It’s definitely encouraging, a lot of teams brought upgrades here and we’ve got some other bits coming, given this is a straight-line speed circuit, we got a result, it gives me high hopes, got to keep pushing and trying to extract more.”
Time for the podium!
Sunday 24 May 2026 23:59 , Kieran Jackson
Another memorable moment for Kimi Antonelli, then, as he stands on top of the podium for the fourth grand prix running!
Is he now the championship favourite? You may well think so...
Kimi Antonelli who finished in first:
Sunday 24 May 2026 23:30 , Kieran Jackson
“Really fun battle with George, we were on the limit. Turn 10 was very difficult. Very close, shame for him to have the failure. It would have been a cool battle.
“But we take it, another win.”
On title lead: “We’ve got to keep raising that bar, George was extremely quick. Need to keep leveling up. Keep pushing.”
Top-10 in Canada
Sunday 24 May 2026 23:07 , Kieran Jackson
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
6. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
8. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
9. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
10. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
Lewis Hamilton on radio, after claiming second:
Sunday 24 May 2026 22:55 , Kieran Jackson
“That was tough guys,mega job this weekend, definitely the result we deserved. Let’s keep pushing, this was a good step, let’s try and close that gap.”
Kimi Antonelli after his win:
Sunday 24 May 2026 22:46 , Kieran Jackson
“Thank you everyone, not the way I wanted to win, was going to be a good fight with George but yeah... we take it.”
Kimi Antonelli wins the Canadian Grand Prix
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 22:37 , Kieran Jackson
Can Lewis hold Max off?
0.6 seconds is the gap.
Verstappen chasing Hamilton (Lap 66/68)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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;
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 22:10 , Kieran Jackson
Virtual safety car, with the pit-entry closed.
Debris? Think so..
Perez out (Lap 43/68)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 21:56 , Kieran Jackson
HEARTBREAK FOR GEORGE! 😢💔#F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/vbnkl34w4X
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 24, 2026
Antonelli leads (Lap 33/68)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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)
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 21:02 , Kieran Jackson
“It feels like I’m floating around a bit on these tyres.”
Not surprised... it’s dry!
Formation lap
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 20:48 , Kieran Jackson
“Slippery when wet.”
You do seriously surprise me, Max.
Time for the Canadian national anthem:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 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
Infantino in Montreal
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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:
Sunday 24 May 2026 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
Sunday 24 May 2026 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?
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
