Russell ‘never doubted’ himself despite tough run

George Russell ended a three-race losing streak to Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by claiming pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix sprint, delivering a composed lap around Circuit Gilles Villeneuve that silenced any doubts.

Russell edged Antonelli by just 0.068 seconds on Friday, turning around a stretch that saw the experienced Briton fall 20 points behind his teenage teammate. It was a timely reminder of his speed.

Why it matters:

Mercedes arrived in Montreal with its first major upgrade package of the season, and Russell's performance suggests the car has genuine potential to fight for top results. After a difficult Miami round where the team struggled, the turnaround reaffirms both driver and team confidence as the midfield battle tightens.

The details:

• Russell's lap: Precise and clean, capitalizing on the high-grip nature of Montreal's circuit. “It feels like you’re driving a proper Formula 1 car around here,” he said.
• Antonelli's scruffy run: A mistake in SQ3 and cold tires on his final flying lap cost him pole. “The lap was quite bad. Not clean at all,” he admitted, though he remained upbeat about potential.
• Upgrade impact: Mercedes' new package delivered immediate pace. Russell praised the team for bringing it forward. The balance shift is still being understood, but early signs are promising.
• Wolff's measured tone: The team principal warned it was “only the baby race” but acknowledged the boost for Russell’s confidence, saying “I’ve never doubted.”

What's next:

Russell leads the sprint grid with Antonelli alongside, setting up a fascinating intra-team duel. The main qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix remains the bigger prize, but Montreal has already delivered a momentum swing. “Pleased to be back in P1 – it’s been a little while,” Russell said. “Still big focus for tomorrow.”