Russell survives – George Russell held off Mercedes teammate and title leader Kimi Antonelli in a tense Canadian Grand Prix sprint at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, then kept McLaren’s Lando Norris at bay to win from pole after two attacks and contact on Turn 1. Antonelli finished t
MONTREAL — George Russell looked like he was in control right up until the moment Kimi Antonelli decided he wasn’t going to let him have it.
Starting from pole. the Mercedes driver won a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix sprint race on Saturday by fending off Antonelli during a frantic stretch of the opening half. The tension turned physical early at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve when the teammates made contact on Turn 1. leaving Russell to defend his place under pressure.
Antonelli launched two attacks on the sixth lap of 23. After Russell forced him into the grass on the first attempt, the Italian driver rolled off course again a few corners later. That second mistake cost him track position, and it allowed McLaren’s Lando Norris to move into the fight.
The on-track drama spilled onto the radio. Antonelli later snapped, “That was very naughty,” in one of several complaints as the battle raged.
Russell’s teammate didn’t get a softer response from above. The Mercedes team principal then told Antonelli, “concentrate on the driving, please, not on the radio moaning.”
Antonelli still seemed frustrated when he added later, “If we’re going to race like this, it’s good to know.”
Norris, the reigning F1 world champion, held on to second place despite Antonelli veering off track again during a third overtaking attempt on the last lap. Antonelli crossed the line in third, with Oscar Piastri taking fourth and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing fifth.
Sprints were introduced into Formula One in 2021. These shortened races run for roughly 100 kilometres — about one-third of a full Grand Prix distance — with a maximum of eight points available.
The drivers’ title picture before qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix remained the storyline of the day. Antonelli, 19, has won three consecutive Grand Prix races and entered the weekend topping the championship with 106 points, 18 ahead of second-place Russell after Saturday’s sprint.
George Russell Kimi Antonelli Canadian Grand Prix sprint race Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Mercedes Lando Norris Oscar Piastri Charles Leclerc Formula One