George Russell will look to regain momentum at this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix after Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli reeled off three consecutive Formula One victories to seize control of the championship battle.
Russell, the bookmakers’ pre-season favourite, won the opening race in Australia but now trails the 19-year-old Italian by 20 points after finishing fourth in each of the last two races.
“The George from last year, I think he’s gone missing a little bit,” 1996 world champion Damon Hill said after the Miami Grand Prix.
The Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal will host a sprint weekend for the first time, giving Russell additional opportunities to reduce the deficit at a circuit where he has previously excelled.
The Briton won last year’s race from pole position while also setting the fastest lap, with Antonelli claiming the first podium finish of his Formula One career. Russell also started from pole in 2025 before finishing third.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, unbeaten so far this season, will introduce their first upgrade package of the campaign at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after rivals McLaren Formula 1 Team, Scuderia Ferrari and Red Bull Racing all brought upgrades to Miami.
Weather conditions could also play a role, with cooler temperatures expected after Canada moved earlier in the calendar from round 10 to round five.
If Antonelli wins again, he would become the first Italian driver since Alberto Ascari in 1952 to claim four successive victories.
“George for sure is going to be super strong in Canada, he’s always been very strong there,” Antonelli said.
“But I feel much more comfortable in the car and much more in control as well. I’m going to try to maximise every time I go on track.”
Max Verstappen, refreshed after competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours last weekend, is a three-time winner in Canada for Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton shares the record of seven Canadian Grand Prix wins with Ferrari great Michael Schumacher.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will also look to continue their strong form after securing a one-two finish in the Miami sprint race.
Organisers are expecting a record crowd in Montreal, with increased capacity and growing demand from Canadian fans.
Lance Stroll is the only home driver on the grid, although Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team have struggled for pace this season.
Montreal will also host Formula 2 for the first time after races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled because of the Iran war.
