Kimi Antonelli tops Canadian GP FP1 as Mercedes dominates, Hamilton third

Kimi Antonelli led a Mercedes 1-2 in the sole practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix, outpacing teammate George Russell by 0.142 seconds. Lewis Hamilton finished third for Ferrari, while championship leader Max Verstappen struggled to eighth.

Why it matters:

Mercedes' heavily upgraded W16 appears to have immediate pace, potentially shaking up the competitive order. After a mixed start to 2026, the Brackley team has shown strong form on a circuit that rewards power and stability. With Sprint qualifying set for Friday, their one-lap speed could give them a crucial edge.

The details:

• Session interrupted twice: First by Liam Lawson's power steering failure in his Racing Bulls, then by a bizarre incident where Alex Albon struck a groundhog at Turn 6, causing significant damage to his Williams.
• Red Bull struggles: Max Verstappen reported downshift issues and lacked pace, ending 0.964s off the lead, while teammate Isack Hadjar (12th) failed to match early promise.
• McLaren off the pace: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri both endured lock-ups and could only manage sixth and seventh, over 1.3s behind Antonelli.
• Soft tyre runs: The Mercedes pair set their best times on the red-walled compound, with Antonelli's 1:13.402 proving unbeatable. Russell spun at Turn 2 but escaped damage.
• Ferrari solid: Hamilton and Charles Leclerc (4th) were within a second, suggesting race pace might be closer on heavy fuel.

What's next:

Sprint qualifying takes place later today, followed by the Sprint race on Saturday. If Mercedes' form carries over, Antonelli could be a serious contender for pole and the win. However, Verstappen's Red Bull often improves in qualifying trim, and Ferrari's long-run data may tell a different story.