21:09
As others return to the pits, Verstappen banks an extra lap, moving him to the top with a 1m14.067s. But then Russell puts the ride issues behind him, with a 1m13.953s.
Hamilton in Canada
© XPB Images
F1 Canada LIVE: Russell takes pole with last-gasp effort to deny Antonelli
Live coverage of Saturday at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix
KEY MOMENTS
- Russell wins after a tense battle with Antonelli
- Antonelli subdued by Wolff in heated radio exchange
- Russell snatches pole with a last gasp effort
The racing action got underway at the Canadian Grand Prix with the sprint race.
George Russell started from pole position with team-mate Kimi Antonelli behind, but the Mercedes drivers made contact several times in the matter of a single lap, leading Antonelli to demand a penalty for Russell.
The tension continued in the post-race press conference, after Toto Wolff had been forced to go on the team radio in an attempt to cool Antonelli's temper.
McLaren and Ferrari have been locked in battle all weekend, with Lewis Hamilton showing strong pace, but finishing last of the quartet in the sprint race, after a brush with the Wall of Champions.
Alex Albon was the major casualty of practice, with the left-hand side of his Williams destroyed after he struck a groundhog and pitched into the concrete wall on the exit of Turn 7. He took no part in sprint qualifying, but started the race from the pit lane.
Driver futures have been a topic of discussion already, with Haas forced to bat away suggestions that Esteban Ocon was headed for the exit door, and Max Verstappen's future - both in F1 and the Red Bull team - has been a topic of continued speculation.
2026 Canadian Grand Prix Friday schedule
Qualifying: 9pm BST - 10pm BST
23 May 2026
21:08
"I'm not sure why, but the ride has felt quite a lot worse today than yesterday," reports Russell.
21:06
Or Verstappen was, but Antonelli and Russell have both forced him down the order slightly.
21:06
The early times are falling rapidly, with Norris putting in a 1m14.213s. Remember, this is on used rubber. Verstappen is second right now.
21:04
Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren are all on used tyres. All other drivers are on fresh rubber.
Alonso is going to be investigated after the session for an unsafe release, but Stroll too is under investigation for his car being released in an unsafe manner. A dreadful start to things for Aston Martin.
21:01
Q1 begins
An awkward moment as Alonso pulls out of the garage in front of Colapinto, but the session is now underway.
20:59
With red flags common in Q1 here, the queue has already formed at the end of the pit lane. No messing about here.
20:58
Unlike in sprint qualifying, only the soft tyre is expected to be used in the coming three-part session.
20:55
It's time to play that music, and wait for the chaos to resume.
20:51
10 Minutes to go, and we're ready for the action to resume. There is reportedly a 100% chance of rain tomorrow, so don't expect to see drivers being shy about throwing tyres at this session.
20:40
Lewis Hamilton may not have recorded headline results this weekend, but his pace has been incredible. In sprint qualifying, a small error on his final tour carried a big price, and he was in line for a fourth place finish in the sprint race, before a brush with the Wall of Champions saw him drop places to Leclerc and Piastri.
20:36
25 minutes before qualifying begins, and maybe it's time to turn focus away from Mercedes for a moment.
20:33
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has said that Russell and Antonelli have established the ground rules of their title battle, with no quarter given or expected. This could be fun!
20:24
Looking at the wider race, and the big winner was Arvid Lindblad. With only the top eight places being rewarded with points, an eighth-place finish is a more than solid showing. It was his first points since the season opener in Australia, and he was already looking strong in the position before Isack Hadjar suffered a power unit problem.
20:20
The main thing, is that both drivers now know how they will go racing in this title battle. You just can't shake the feeling that there is a shunt lurking just around the corner.
20:13
What did we all make of the Mercedes infighting in the sprint race, then? Personally, it was great to see the pair show what the title would clearly mean to both drivers, and a little bit of spice never did anyone any harm.
However, Toto Wolff must be fearing a 2016 repeat right now.
20:06
We're back!
Qualifying is less than one hour away, and we're back to bring you all the buildup ahead of a vital session. Overtaking is possible, although not always simple, in Canada, so a strong grid slot is a must.
19:13
'What they need to do' - Lando Norris weighs in on Mercedes battle he took advantage of
Lando Norris says that Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli are doing “what they need to do” by fighting hard on track, given that the Formula 1 World Championship is at stake.
The fraught battle for the lead of the Montreal sprint between Russell and Antonelli had obvious echoes of that involving Norris and Piastri at McLaren last year, which came to a head when they made contact in the Canadian GP.
Full story here⬇️
'What they need to do' - Lando Norris weighs in on Mercedes battle he took advantage of
Norris in Canada
© XPB Images
19:02
What Mercedes boss Wolff made of Russell-Antonelli contact
Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff has given his take on the contact that occurred between George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the Canadian Grand Prix sprint.
The title battle between Russell and Antonelli heated up as the Mercedes duo twice came to blows in a fight for the lead during the first ever sprint race to be held at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Antonelli was forced onto the grass at Turn 1, and again at the Turn 8/9 chicane as he failed in his attempts to overtake Russell for the lead in the early laps of Saturday’s shortened race.
You can read the full story and Wolff's take here 👇
WHAT MERCEDES BOSS WOLFF MADE OF RUSSELL-ANTONELLI CONTACT
Antonelli and Russell came to blows twice
18:46
Kimi Antonelli hits out at George Russell after being “pushed off” in F1 Canadian GP sprint clash
Andrea Kimi Antonelli has criticised Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate George Russell after their clash in the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race.
On two occasions, Antonelli was forced onto the grass as he attempted to overtake Russell for the lead as they twice came to blows during a battle for the lead.
Full story here⬇️
Antonelli and Russell twice clashed in the Canada sprint
18:44
Kimi Antonelli vs George Russell - How the Mercedes drama unfolded over team radio
Kimi Antonelli's radio anger in a heated battle with team-mate George Russell caused Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to intervene twice during the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race. Here is how the drama unfolded.
In less than a lap, Antonelli ventured onto the grass on three occasions. First, on the run to the final chicane on lap four, he was drawing alongside Russell, when the gap appeared to disappear in the braking zone. Kicking up dirt, this set the tone for what would follow at Turn 1 on lap five.
Full story here⬇️
Kimi Antonelli vs George Russell - How the Mercedes drama unfolded over team radio
Russell and Antonelli in a frosty Canadian GP media session
© XPB Images
18:23
Russell wins Canada sprint after fraught Antonelli battle
George Russell claimed victory in the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race after a fierce battle with Mercedes team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
For the first time this season, the Mercedes pair made contact as Russell and Antonelli duelled for the lead during the early stages of the first-ever sprint race to be held in Montreal.
You can read our full sprint report here ⬇️
RUSSELL WINS CANADA SPRINT AS MERCEDES FIGHT HAS FIRST FLASHPOINT
Antonelli takes to the grass after his skirmish with Russell
17:35
Antonelli is still angry, saying that it's nice to know this is how the Mercedes team-mates race. Wolff gets on the radio again and tells him to stop, and that this is dealt with internally.
17:33
Russell takes the flag, and answers some of his critics. A win for the Brit, from Norris and Antonelli.
Piastri is fourth, just, from Leclerc and Hamilton.
Hamilton, Verstappen, and Lindblad complete the points positions.
17:32
Piastri has passed Hamilton, somehow, and Leclerc is also ahead of his Ferrari team-mate!