Mercedes Dominates Canadian GP FP1 with Antonelli Leading Russell

Mercedes sent an early statement at the Canadian Grand Prix, locking out the top two positions in Free Practice 1 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Rookie Kimi Antonelli edged teammate George Russell by 0.142s, setting a benchmark time of 1:13.402s on a dry, cool track in Montreal.

Why it matters:

FP1 results don't win races, but Mercedes' commanding pace—nearly eight-tenths clear of the nearest non-Mercedes—signals a potential shift in the pecking order. With Ferrari and Red Bull both trailing, the Silver Arrows appear to have hit the ground running in Round 5 of the 2026 season.

The details:

• Mercedes 1-2: Antonelli's lap was 0.142s faster than Russell, with both drivers completing over 30 laps—a sign of reliability and strong setup work.
• Ferrari close behind: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were third and fourth, both within a second of Antonelli. Hamilton was 0.774s back, Leclerc 0.953s—encouraging but not enough to challenge the W16's pace.
• Red Bull plays catch-up: Max Verstappen ended FP1 in fifth, nearly a second off the pace. The RB22 showed promising long-run signs but lacked single-lap bite.
• Audi's steady start: Nico Hülkenberg placed ninth, just 0.2s behind Fernando Alonso's Aston Martin. Teammate Gabriel Bortoleto was 11th, a solid showing for the new squad.
• Liam Lawson limited: The Racing Bulls driver managed only five laps, likely due to a technical issue, leaving him last among runners.

What's next:

FP2, scheduled later today, will shift focus to qualifying simulations and tire degradation runs. If Mercedes maintains this margin, the fight for pole could become a Silver Arrows internal duel. Ferrari and Red Bull will need to find significant gains overnight to close the gap.