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

By The Canadian Press

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

May 23, 2026 | 11:00 AM

MONTREAL — George Russell won a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix sprint race from the pole after fending off Mercedes teammate and Formula One points leader Kimi Antonelli on Saturday.

Russell weathered two Antonelli attacks on the sixth of 23 laps as the teammates made contact on Turn 1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Russell forced Antonelli into the grass before the Italian driver rolled off course again on a second attempt a few corners later, losing his place to McLaren’s Lando Norris in the process.

“That was very naughty,” a frustrated Antonelli said about Russell in one of several complaints over the team radio.

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

“If we’re going to race like this, it’s good to know,” Antonelli later added.

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Norris, the reigning F1 world champion, held on to second as Antonelli veered off track a third time in an overtake attempt on the last lap.

Antonelli finished third, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

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.

Antonelli, 19, has won three straight Grand Prix races to top the drivers’ championship with 106 points, 18 more than second-place Russell after Saturday’s sprint race.

Racing continues later Saturday with qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

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

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

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

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