Antonelli Wins Canadian GP After Russell Retirement; Hamilton Secures First Ferrari Podium

Kimi Antonelli secured victory at the Canadian Grand Prix after Mercedes teammate George Russell retired from a fierce wheel-to-wheel battle. Lewis Hamilton delivered a stellar drive to finish second—his best result with Ferrari—while Max Verstappen capitalized on McLaren's strategic errors to claim his first podium of the 2026 season.

Why it matters:

The race underscored Mercedes' current power unit dominance, a significant advantage that Ferrari and Red Bull are struggling to match. The complexity of the 2026 energy deployment rules also drew heavy criticism from the top drivers, who are calling for simpler, purer racing.

The details:

• Antonelli's Ascendancy: The Mercedes driver extended his championship lead to 43 points. He admitted the win felt bittersweet after a thrilling fight with Russell, noting he had to carefully manage front-left tire graining once out front.
• Hamilton's Breakthrough: Finding the right setup with Ferrari, Hamilton praised his team's support. However, he openly highlighted Ferrari's straight-line speed deficit, explaining he had to execute complex battery calculations to overtake Verstappen.
• Verstappen's Relief: The Red Bull driver was surprised to finish P3, acknowledging that Russell's retirement and McLaren's disastrous inter-tire gamble at the start aided his result.
• Driver Frustrations: All three podium finishers criticized the current power unit rules. Verstappen called the system "way too complex," while Hamilton lamented the feeling of power dropping mid-straight, both advocating for a return to more pure engine performance.

What's next:

The grid heads to Monaco next weekend. Hamilton is optimistic that the tight street circuit will neutralize Mercedes' power advantage, allowing Ferrari to fight purely on car performance.