A Historic Start to the Season

Kimi Antonelli has rewritten the history books of Formula One after claiming his fourth straight victory at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal. The Italian Mercedes driver joined an exclusive club by becoming the first competitor in the sport's history to win his first four races of a season, following earlier triumphs in China, Japan, and Miami.

The race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve featured an intense intra-team battle in the opening stint. Antonelli dueled wheel-to-wheel with teammate George Russell, with both drivers swapping the lead multiple times. The fight ended abruptly on lap 30 when Russell retired from the race due to a mechanical failure, pulling off the track and handing the initiative entirely to the Italian.

Hamilton's Strong Charge and Verstappen's Podium

With his closest rival out of the picture, Antonelli controlled the pace comfortably, managing his tires and engine to cross the finish line 10.7 seconds ahead of second-placed Lewis Hamilton. The British driver, now racing for Ferrari, produced a masterclass in the final 20 laps to secure his best result of the season with the Scuderia.

Hamilton’s charge included overtaking Max Verstappen, who had been holding second. The Dutchman settled for third place, claiming his first podium of the 2026 campaign. Charles Leclerc finished fourth ahead of Isack Hadjar in fifth. Franco Colapinto continued his impressive run, scoring his highest-ever F1 finish in sixth place. Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, and Oliver Bearman completed the points scorers.

Championship Standings and Next Stop Monaco

Antonelli now leads the Drivers' Championship with 131 points after five rounds, holding a 43-point advantage over Russell. Leclerc remains third, 56 points adrift. In the Constructors' standings, Mercedes has surpassed 200 points, leading with 219, 72 points clear of Ferrari. McLaren trails in third, 113 points behind, after a scoreless race where Oscar Piastri finished 11th and Lando Norris retired.

The series now heads to Europe for the next nine races, beginning with the Monaco Grand Prix in two weeks. The European leg will run until mid-September before the championship embarks on its second global tour.