Russell wins Canada sprint after dramatic battle with Antonelli

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• Published23 May 2026, 17:37 BST

The title battle between Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli boiled over for the first time as the Englishman won a gripping sprint race at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Russell and Antonelli collided in one incident and the Italian ran off track in another as they battled for the lead of the race in the early laps.

Antonelli's second off-track incident handed second place to McLaren's Lando Norris and the three cars fought nose to tail until the end of the race.

Antonelli, who finished third behind Norris, complained over the radio that Russell had pushed him off track in the first incident and deserved a penalty.

Team boss Toto Wolff, who rarely talks on the radio, ordered his protege to "concentrate on the driving, not on the radio moaning".

Russell kept his cool in the lead - and on the penultimate lap Antonelli had a third off-track moment as he attempted to dive around the outside of the McLaren into the first corner, but Norris held firm.

Russell's victory, from Norris and Antonelli, cuts his deficit in the championship to Antonelli to 18 points and was a much-needed return to the front for the Briton after three consecutive grand prix wins for his team-mate.

Antonelli complained again about Russell's driving on the slowing down lap and Wolff again came on the radio to admonish him: "Kimi, we talk about this privately, not on the radio."

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The first of a series of flashpoints between Russell and Antonelli came on lap six after the two Mercedes had converted their front-row starting positions into a one-two on track at the start.

Antonelli tried to pass Russell around the outside of Turn One, but ended up on the grass, managing to hold on to second place.

This was the incident by which Antonelli was angered and the Italian continued his complaints after the race.

"It was a tough battle," he said. "I need to review that. I tried to make my move but I was quite well alongside and got pushed off."

A little further around the same lap, Antonelli overshot his braking point at Turn Eight and plunged across the grass and out of the other side of the chicane.

Antonelli held his hands up about this incident, saying he had hit a bump on the track and compromised his race.

Norris nipped by into second place and was soon right up behind Russell challenging for the lead.

After dropping back a little following the incident, Antonelli made it a three-way fight for the lead and, with just under two laps to go, he tried to pass Norris at Turn One.

Again, he ended up off the track and Norris held on.

At the same time, McLaren's second driver Oscar Piastri passed Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari for fourth into the final corner, and the seven-time champion then lost another place to team-mate Charles Leclerc on the run to the first corner.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen took seventh after a lonely race unable to keep up with the top six, while Racing Bull's Arvid Lindblad claimed the final point in eighth.

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