2026 F1 Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings: Russell Shines Before Retirement, Leclerc's Worst Weekend

Round five of the 2026 season delivered a thrilling Canadian Grand Prix, with standout performances and costly mistakes reshaping the driver ratings. George Russell was the star of the weekend—sprint pole, sprint win, grand prix pole, and a lead overtake on Antonelli—before his engine expired. At the other end, Charles Leclerc admitted it was the worst weekend of his career, scoring a mere 5.

Why it matters:

These ratings reflect early-season momentum shifts. Hamilton's best Ferrari weekend signals a potential resurgence, while Colapinto's third points finish in five races proves he's a consistent force. Leclerc's struggles widen the gap to teammate Hamilton and raise questions about Ferrari's 2026 form.

The details:

• George Russell (9.5): Almost flawless—won sprint, took pole, led grand prix. Only minor lock-ups and a retirement (not his fault) kept him from a perfect 10.
• Lewis Hamilton (9): His best Ferrari weekend. Outpaced Leclerc and passed Verstappen for second with a vintage move. Momentum builder.
• Franco Colapinto (9): Career-best performance, outpaced Gasly all weekend, and scored his third top-six finish in five races.
• Max Verstappen (8.5): Consistent and opportunistic, claiming a podium when McLaren and Russell faltered. Defended well against Hamilton.
• Kimi Antonelli (8): Quick but erratic—risked a crash trying to beat Russell. Now holds a 43-point buffer; needs to calm down.
• Bottom five: Leclerc (5, 'nightmare'), Stroll (5, messy weekend), Alonso (5, rare SQ1 error, retired with seat issue), Albon (5, wasted weekend after Piastri crash), Bottas (4.5, behind Perez all weekend).

What's next:

Hamilton can build on this momentum for the next round, while Leclerc must reset. Russell's reliability blow gives Mercedes a headache, but his pace is undeniable. Colapinto's rise adds pressure on Gasly at Alpine. The driver ratings show a tightening field, with Verstappen still a podium threat despite Red Bull not being dominant.