Mercedes' George Russell celebrates after finishing first in the sprint race ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

George Russell won the ​Canadian Grand Prix ‌sprint from pole position ​on Saturday with ⁠Formula One leader Kimi Antonelli third and crying ‌foul as the gloves came off ‌between the ‌Mercedes ⁠teammates.

McLaren’s reigning world ⁠champion Lando Norris, winner of the previous sprint in ​Miami, was ‌second after 23 laps of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Russell’s second ‌sprint victory of the ​season cut Antonelli’s lead to 18 ⁠points with the 19-year-old Italian fuming after ‌the Mercedes pair almost collided in battling for the lead.

“That was very naughty,” the teenager said after ​Russell shut the door on ‌an early passing attempt, with Norris seizing his chance to take second.

The Italian continued to complain over the radio, saying Russell should be given a penalty because ‌he had been alongside the Briton’s mirror.

“I don’t ​care. He pushed me off,” he told race engineer Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington after an attempt to calm ⁠him down.

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Team boss Toto Wolff then made a rare radio intervention, telling Antonelli to “concentrate on the driving, please, not ‌on the radio moaning”.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished fourth with the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc ⁠and seven-times champion Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively.

Four-times world ⁠champion Max Verstappen was seventh for Red Bull with Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad taking the ‌final point in eighth.

Published on May 23, 2026