McLaren bet on rain. The sun was out, Russell's car died, and Antonelli won.

25 May 2026 · Canadian Grand Prix

McLaren and Audi started on rain tyres for a race in which no rain ever came, and although they spotted the mistake and pitted to fix it, the damage was already done. Recovering from that far back was never realistic: Norris's car broke down before he could climb into the points, and Piastri collected a 10 second penalty for hitting Albon and finished outside them, so McLaren scored nothing at all.

At the front it was a completely different race. Russell led early until Antonelli pushed back and took it from him, at which point Russell simply took it straight back, and the two Mercedes drivers went on trading the lead lap after lap. Then Russell's car stopped. One of the best battles of the season ended mid-argument, and Antonelli had nobody left to fight.

Russell's retirement and a safety car on lap 31 sealed it for the two drivers already scrapping over the podium behind him, because suddenly there was nothing left in their way. Verstappen held P2 for most of the race until Hamilton hunted him down, made the move stick and then kept him behind all the way to the line. Nobody would have predicted this podium before the start.

Elsewhere In The Grid

Colapinto, Gasly and Lawson all finished in the points, and the route there tells you how strange the afternoon was.

McLaren and Audi were out of contention on the wrong tyres before lap 10, Norris retired, Piastri took a penalty and Russell stopped, and then the safety car arrived and handed everyone a cheap pit stop. All three took it and climbed through the field while the trouble happened around them.

Antonelli now has four wins, McLaren scored nothing at all, and Russell retired from a race he had been leading. Monaco is next. Tight walls, nowhere to pass, nowhere to hide.