The title battle finally came alive - then Antonelli took control

The title battle finally came alive - then Antonelli took controlImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kimi Antonelli is now 43 points ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell in the drivers' championshipByAndrew BensonF1 CorrespondentPublished25 May 2026, 01:51 BSTCommentsUpdated 6 minutes agoThe Canadian Grand Prix was the race in which the Formula 1 title battle finally came alive this year.It was also, however, the race in which it took a potentially decisive turn, putting a huge dent in George Russell's hopes of beating his 19-year-old Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to the championship.Russell's retirement from the race came after 30 laps of frenetic battling between the pair which lit up the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on a damp, gloomy day so cold it tempted world champions McLaren into a seemingly inexplicable decision to start the race on a dry track on wet-weather tyres.Russell's retirement handed the win to Antonelli, his fourth in a row, and the Italian now has a massive 43-point lead.Doubtless there are many twists and turns to come in the remaining 17 races. Even so, that will take some recovering.Afterwards, Russell was stoic but understandably downbeat."Right now it's his to lose," he said. "He is so many points ahead. It feels like the gods don't want me to be in this fight, when I look at the safety-car timing in Japan, breaking down in China Q3, fighting for pole, breaking down from the lead here today."But, you know, the pressure's off. Go out, enjoy every single race. Try to win every single race. And I've got nothing to lose."I don't want to be stood here talking like that. It is, of course, frustrating, but I want to be in that fight. Hopefully, the luck will turn."Antonelli wins again to capitalise on Russell retirement in CanadaPublished3 hours agoHamilton 'all smiles' & Antonelli 'not afraid to fight' - driver ratingsPublished6 minutes a...