Winners and Losers from the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli delivered a statement performance by winning the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix, his first Formula 1 victory, while his Mercedes teammate George Russell retired from the lead with a power unit issue. The changing weather conditions in Montreal dictated the outcome, rewarding flawless execution and punishing strategic blunders.

Why it matters:

• Antonelli's triumph and Russell's DNF have dramatically shifted the internal balance at Mercedes, giving the 19-year-old a massive 43-point championship lead.
• Lewis Hamilton's stellar drive to second for Ferrari proves the veteran is still a formidable threat when the car and setup align.
• For McLaren, a weekend that should have solidified their competitive pace turned into a strategic disaster, highlighting the thin margin for error in mixed conditions.

The details:

• Mercedes' shifting dynamics: Antonelli consistently looked faster than Russell all weekend. Though Russell was leading before his failure, Antonelli's flawless run to P1 makes him the clear momentum holder.
• Hamilton's resurgence: Ditching simulator work for a new setup paid off. Hamilton executed a brilliant pass on Verstappen around the outside of Turn 1 to secure P2, rolling back the years at a track he loves.
• McLaren's meltdown: Starting both cars on intermediates on a drying track was a clear error. Lando Norris later retired with a gearbox issue, and Oscar Piastri earned a penalty for colliding with Alex Albon, who had a weekend plagued by bad luck including a practice groundhog collision.
• Midfield battles: Franco Colapinto secured a career-best P6 for Alpine, outpacing his teammate. Carlos Sainz salvaged P9 for Williams despite admitting his inter tire call was a mistake. Liam Lawson fought to P7 for Racing Bulls after limited practice running.
• Weekend to forget: Arvid Lindblad didn't start due to a clutch issue after a strong rookie weekend. Audi's tire strategy left them pointless, and Aston Martin's weekend was marred by Fernando Alonso retiring with a seat issue.

What's next:

Mercedes faces a fascinating dynamic as Russell must now claw back a significant deficit from his young teammate. Ferrari will aim to carry Hamilton's Montreal momentum forward, while McLaren and Audi must review their strategic processes to avoid repeating costly errors in variable conditions.