Kimi Antonelli claimed a fourth consecutive victory at the Canadian Grand Prix after a furious George Russell was forced to retire due to an electrical issue, extending the Italian's championship lead to 43 points.
Pulsating Battle Ends in Heartbreak for Russell
The Mercedes pair exchanged the lead multiple times during a breathless opening 30 laps, continuing their intense rivalry after clashing in Saturday's sprint race. Russell accused Antonelli of a 'very naughty' move in the sprint, but team boss Toto Wolff had urged calm. However, on Sunday, the tension boiled over again as contact was made on lap 25, with Antonelli forced to cut a chicane and ordered to give the place back.
Russell's Title Hopes Dented
On lap 30, Russell's car suddenly lost power, sending him across the grass and into retirement. The Briton was left fuming at the side of the track as his championship hopes suffered a major blow. Antonelli, meanwhile, cruised to victory ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who secured his best result for Ferrari in second place after a late pass on Max Verstappen. Verstappen took third, claiming his first podium of the season.
McLaren's Miserable Afternoon
McLaren endured a disastrous race, with Lando Norris retiring on lap 40 due to a reliability issue after a promising start. Oscar Piastri could only manage 11th place. The team had gambled on intermediate tyres at the start, which briefly gave Norris the lead, but the strategy backfired as the track dried quickly.
Race Highlights
- Verstappen passed Hamilton for third on lap nine.
- Russell and Antonelli exchanged the lead on multiple occasions, including a dramatic side-by-side moment on the back straight.
- Hamilton overtook Verstappen with six laps remaining to claim second.
The result leaves Antonelli with a commanding lead in the drivers' championship, while Russell faces an uphill battle to recover from this setback.
