Canadian GP Winners and Losers: McLaren’s Meltdown, Russell DNF, and Antonelli’s Streak

The Canadian Grand Prix was a race of extremes: Kimi Antonelli extended his winning streak to four after teammate George Russell’s power unit failure, while McLaren saw both cars falter. Here are the biggest winners and losers from Montreal.

Why it matters:

The race reshaped the championship landscape. Antonelli now leads Russell by 43 points, and Red Bull Ford secured its first podium of the season. McLaren’s collapse opens the door for Ferrari and Red Bull to close the gap in the constructors’ standings.

The details:

• Winner: Kimi Antonelli – The 19-year-old Italian made it four in a row, holding his own against Russell before the Briton retired. Despite regretting the win came via a teammate’s DNF, Antonelli’s consistency puts him firmly in title contention.
• Loser: George Russell – A promising weekend ended in smoke on lap 30 due to a power unit failure. His DNF extends a podium drought to three races, and his gap to Antonelli now sits at 43 points.
• Winner: Lewis Hamilton – The seven-time champion delivered his strongest Ferrari weekend, overtaking Max Verstappen for second. He was head and shoulders above teammate Leclerc all weekend.
• Loser: Charles Leclerc – The Monegasque called it “probably the worst weekend of his F1 career.” He finished fourth but never challenged the front.
• Winner: Max Verstappen/Red Bull – First podium of 2026 for the Red Bull Ford power unit, with Verstappen third and Isack Hadjar fifth – his best result yet.
• Loser: McLaren – The reigning champions had a nightmare: a tyre strategy gamble backfired, Lando Norris retired with a car failure, and Oscar Piastri was lapped twice and penalized for a collision. A weekend to forget.

What's next:

McLaren will look to rebound at Monaco, where they won last year. Mercedes must diagnose Russell’s engine issue, while Ferrari and Red Bull aim to build on their momentum. The title fight is tightening.