George Russell delivered a measured drive to victory in the Canadian Grand Prix Sprint, converting pole position into a second straight Montreal short format win as Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli was forced to settle for P3 behind McLaren’s Lando Norris after the Italian championship leader had two off track moments as he battled for the win.
Mercedes had secured a front-row lockout ahead of McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull, and the Silver Arrows pair made a clean launch to retain their advantage into Turn 1. Russell held the lead from Antonelli, while Norris slotted into third. Behind them, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton made early progress, sweeping around the outside of Oscar Piastri at Turn 2 to move into fourth, with Charles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar completing the points-paying positions.
Hadjar’s hold on P8 was brief, however as on lap 5 he reported a PU problem. He plummeted down the order before pitting and though his team was able to rectify and return him to the action, the Frenchman was two laps down and finished in P21.
Ahead, Antonelli closed un on Russell and on lap 6 he made his first attempt to take the lead, trying to go around the outside at Turn 1. With little space available, the Italian ran across the grass but stayed in contention. He attacked again at Turn 8, braking late before bouncing over the grass for a second time, a moment that allowed Norris to move through into second.
Hamilton briefly threatened Antonelli for third, but the Mercedes rookie recovered his rhythm and later reduced the gap to Norris, who was also edging closer to Russell. On the final lap, Antonelli launched one last move around the outside of the McLaren at Turn 1, but Norris defended successfully to secure second place behind Russell.
Further back, Hamilton faded late on and dropped to sixth, losing out to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari team-mate Leclerc. Verstappen finished seventh, while Arvid Lindblad claimed the final point for Racing Bulls.
Lance Stroll was the leading finisher among the five drivers who started from the pit lane, ahead of Valtteri Bottas, Oliver Bearman, Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly.
2026 FIA Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix – Sprint
1 George Russell Mercedes 23 28’50.951
2 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 23 28’52.223 1.272
3 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 23 28’52.794 1.843
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 23 29’00.748 9.797
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 23 29’00.880 9.929
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 23 29’01.496 10.545
7 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 23 29’06.886 15.935
8 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 23 29’20.661 29.710
9 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Mercedes 23 29’22.572 31.621
10 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 23 29’27.744 36.793
11 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 23 29’52.295 1’01.344
12 Gabirel Bortoleto Audi 23 29’52.765 1’01.814
13 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 23 29’55.160 1’04.209
14 Sergio Perez Cadillac/Ferrari 23 30’01.353 1’10.402
15 Nico Hulkenberg Audi 23 30’03.109 1’12.158
16 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Honda 22 29’04.078 1 lap /13.127
17 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac/Ferrari 22 29’08.812 1 lap /17.861
18 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 22 29’14.797 1 lap /23.846
19 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 22 29’44.444 1 lap /53.493
20 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Mercedes 22 29’59.428 1 lap /1’08.477
21 Isack Hadjar Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 20 29’09.086 3 laps /18.135
Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Honda 15 20’06.314 Retirement