Kimi Antonelli extended his winning streak to four with victory at the Canadian Grand Prix, capitalising after an intense duel with Mercedes teammate George Russell was cut short by a reliability issue. Russell’s retirement around the halfway mark handed Antonelli control of the race and a 43-point cushion at the top of the standings, even as he stressed the season remains wide open.
Reflecting on the battle and the challenging conditions, Antonelli said: "It was a fun battle with George. We were very much on the limit and it was not easy with the wind. Very gusty. Turn 10 was very difficult. It was very close and the (DNF) was a shame for him as it would have been a very cool battle. But we will take it. Another win."
Once out front on his own, Antonelli shifted into tyre-management mode as he navigated graining on the front-left. "When I was on my own, I was trying to really manage the tyres as some graining started to appear on the front-left tyre. Now we are looking forward to the next race," he added.
The turning point arrived when Russell was forced to pull over with a technical problem, ending a compelling head-to-head for the lead. A Virtual Safety Car neutralised the race for several laps before action resumed, after which there was little drama at the front as Antonelli closed out the win. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen secured the remaining podium places behind the Mercedes youngster.
Despite the expanding points advantage, Antonelli warned there is no room for complacency. "We have to keep raising the bar as George was extremely quick this weekend. We were neck and neck. Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren are definitely coming back so we have to keep pushing and be ready for anything."
The Italian’s fourth straight win underscores Mercedes’ current form but also highlights clear areas of focus. Russell’s retirement will prompt reliability checks, while Antonelli’s comments on front-left graining point to ongoing tyre-management considerations. With rivals stepping up development, the battle at the front shows signs of tightening.
What to watch next: how Mercedes responds to Russell’s DNF, whether Antonelli’s tyre management remains a strength under varying conditions, and if Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren can translate their momentum into sustained pressure over the coming rounds.
Source: gpblog.com