Talent, character and a pinch of good luck for the retirement of his Mercedes teammate and rival George Russell. The Canadian Grand Prix, graced by rain, increasingly launches Kimi Antonelli into orbit, capable of taking the poker on the Montreal circuit named after Gilles Villeneuve, winning for the fourth consecutive time in the season – the first ever to score the first four successes of his career – and making a nice leap forward in the Drivers’ World Championship. Excellent second, behind the young Italian ace, was a finally brilliant Lewis Hamilton who achieved his best result in a long race since he landed in Maranello.
Also on the podium was a revived Max Verstappen who with his Red Bull had to give way to his old rival right at the end of the race. Fourth was the other Red car driven by Charles Leclerc, who took advantage of the disaster of the McLarens who at the start decided to fit intermediate wet tires hoping for rain, but their strategy spectacularly failed. Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris were forced to stop immediately and ended up out of contention with the world champion retiring and the Australian out of the points. Alpine in points with both drivers: Franco Colapinto extraordinary sixth, Pierre Gasly eighth behind Liam Lawson. Top ten completed by Carlos Sainz and Oliver Bearman. After Shanghai, Suzuka and Miami, Antonelli also triumphed in Canada and increased his points lead over his English teammate (winner of Saturday’s Sprint ahead of Norrris and Antonelli himself) from eighteen to forty-three (131 to 88), consoled by Toto Wolff upon his return to the paddock. For Kimi a dream advantage on the eve of the European season after the first five stages. All at the end of a race which had seen him, before Russell’s retirement, engage in an epic duel with his teammate involving overtaking and counter-overtaking.
“It was a very fun battle – Antonelli said from the podium at the end of the race – it wasn’t easy especially due to the wind. I’m sorry for Russell for his breakdown. It would have been a good battle until the end. I’m happy for this victory.” Lewis Hamilton is happy for his best result with the Red in a real GP: “I have to thank my team who welcomed me with open arms. Finding ideal conditions and returning to the podium is fantastic. I’m really very happy, I love this track, it’s an extremely encouraging victory. We are working hard in the factory, we hope more updates will arrive.”