Mercedes' Russell fends off Antonelli to win dramatic sprint race at Canadian GP

Mercedes driver George Russell of the United Kingdom drives down the pit lane after taking pole following the sprint qualifying session at the Formula One auto racing Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Friday, May 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL — George Russell clashed with Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli to win a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix sprint race from the pole Saturday and ignite a battle for the Formula One title.

Russell fended off a pair of attacks from Antonelli, the current championship leader, on the sixth of 23 laps as the drivers made contact on Turn 1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, forcing the 19-year-old Italian into the grass.

“That was very naughty,” a furious Antonelli said in one of several complaints as emotions boiled over on the team radio.

The teenage sensation then snapped, accusing Russell of pushing him off before demanding a penalty.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff told Antonelli to “concentrate on the driving, please, not on the radio moaning.”

“I need to recheck. Emotions were very high in the moment, and obviously I was very annoyed,” a more subdued Antonelli said in an ensuing press conference, moments after a frosty finish-line handshake with Russell.

“We just need a bit of clarity and then once it's clear, then it's all going to be fine,” he added. “The main thing for the team is that there's no contact, that we don't pressure each other, which today at the end was very close.”

From Russell’s point of view, he’d done nothing wrong, chalking up the fireworks simply to hard racing.

“I wasn't investigated, so I guess the race directors and stewards thought the same,” said the 28-year-old Brit, sitting next to Antonelli. “As kids in karting, we know that overtaking on the outside, there's a certain element of risk that comes with that. They're amazing overtakes when they come off, but the chances are quite slim.

“There was only one direction I was going and I was gonna close the line because that's my right to do so. Respect to him for giving it a go. Emotions are always high for all of us in the cockpit, but I'm sure we'll both talk about it after.”

Antonelli rolled off course again on a second attempt a few corners later, losing his place to McLaren’s Lando Norris in the process.

Norris, the reigning F1 world champion, challenged Russell the rest of the race but ultimately held on to second as Antonelli veered off track a third time in an overtake attempt on the last lap.

Antonelli finished third, as Russell cut his championship lead to 18 points heading into qualifying later Saturday for Sunday’s Grand Prix. Russell also won a sprint race in China earlier this season.

“It is clear that between teammates we race hard and fair and no contact, and that's always the objective,” Russell said. “I wasn't racing Kimi any harder than I would have raced Lando in the same position. We're both here fighting to win, and as always in the past, even last year when we battled, I always gave Kimi a bit more room compared to anyone else.

“It wasn't even investigated, so I think that says enough."

F1 introduced sprints in 2021. The shortened races cover roughly 100 kilometres, about one-third the distance of a Grand Prix, for a maximum of eight points. For reference, a Grand Prix victory is worth 25.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri placed fourth, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fifth and sixth, respectively. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was seventh and Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls finished eighth.

Montreal’s Lando Norris, the lone Canadian on the 22-driver grid, placed 16th for Aston Martin.

The Canadian Grand Prix is the fifth of 22 stops on the F1 calendar after the Iran war forced cancellations in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April.

Russell, last year’s winner in Montreal, entered the weekend under pressure after Antonelli won the past three races.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 23, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press