2026 F1 Canadian Grand Prix
© XPB Images

F1 Canada LIVE: Russell retires, Antonelli leads after tense battle

Live updates from the 2026 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix

KEY MOMENTS

2026 F1 Canadian Grand Prix is underway
Russell retires on lap 30, Antonelli leads
Russell, Antonelli trading places in thriller
Threat of rain in the air

The fifth round of the 2026 Formula 1 season takes place at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Mercedes driver George Russell starting from pole position.

The final race before F1 heads to Europe for an extended period, the Canadian Grand Prix weekend has also been the third sprint event of the campaign.

George Russell converted pole to victory in Saturday's sprint at Montreal, but not without controversy, as he and Mercedes team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli touched at Turn 1.

With the pair starting on the front row again for the start of Sunday's race, fireworks are expected, even if the rules of engagement have had to be spelt out for Russell and Antonelli already by Toto Wolff.

McLaren managed a podium in the sprint with Lando Norris, and looks to have strong race pace for Sunday's longer contest if the weather plays ball.

There is rain in the forecast for the main race, which would mark the first time these new cars will have competed in rain conditions. This has already led to warnings from some drivers about how the new car behaves in wet conditions.

Eighteen points split Antonelli and Russell in the championship ahead of this race.

Lewis Duncan

24 May 2026

21:00

Wild tyre choices

Ahead of this race, we have the two Mercs on the front row on soft tyres.

The McLarens are on intermediates, as is Hulkenberg, Bortoleto, Sainz, Perez and Bottas.

Hamilton, Verstappen, Hadjar, Leclerc, Bearman, Ocon, Albon, Alonso, Stroll on softs.

Everyone else is on the mediums.

20:58

F1 Canada: Starting Grid

A reminder of the starting grid ahead of this race:

2026 F1 Canadian Grand Prix - Starting Grid
Pos	Driver	Nat.	Team
1	George Russell	GBR	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
2	Kimi Antonelli	ITA	Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team
3	Lando Norris	GBR	McLaren Mastercard F1 Team
4	Oscar Piastri	AUS	McLaren Mastercard F1 Team
5	Lewis Hamilton	GBR	Scuderia Ferrari HP
6	Max Verstappen	NED	Oracle Red Bull Racing
7	Isack Hadjar	FRA	Oracle Red Bull Racing
8	Charles Leclerc	MON	Scuderia Ferrari HP
9	Arvid Lindblad	GBR	Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team
10	Franco Colapinto	ARG	BWT Alpine F1 Team
11	Nico Hulkenberg	GER	Audi Revolut F1 Team
12	Liam Lawson	NZL	Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team
13	Gabriel Bortoleto	BRA	Audi Revolut F1 Team
14	Pierre Gasly	FRA	BWT Alpine F1 Team
15	Carlos Sainz	ESP	Atlassian Williams F1 Team
16	Oliver Bearman	GBR	TGR Haas F1 Team
17	Esteban Ocon	FRA	TGR Haas F1 Team
18	Alex Albon	THA	Atlassian Williams F1 Team
19	Fernando Alonso	ESP	Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team
20	Sergio Perez	MEX	Cadillac F1 Team
21	Valtteri Bottas	FIN	Cadillac F1 Team
PL	Lance Stroll	CAN	Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team

20:57

What will happen in a wet F1 race with 2026 rules?

If the rain does come down at the circuit is deemed low-grip by the FIA, there will be a few changes made:

Boost will be disabled (like DRS was in 'the old days')
Deployment will be reduced from 350KW to 250KW
Straight Mode will only be for the front and will be limited, in terms of zones.

20:55

Five minutes to go!