Antonelli eyes fourth win, Russell seeks to reassert dominance at Canadian GP

Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli seeks a sensational fourth consecutive victory to boost his F1 drivers’ title bid this weekend, but expects a robust response from Mercedes teammate George Russell at the Canadian Grand Prix.

The 19-year-old rising star of Italian sport leads the Briton, nine years his senior and the pre-season favourite for the title, by 20 points after four rounds of the 22-race championship as Mercedes unveiled a major upgrade package.

For Russell, it is important to re-establish his authority in the team after two fourth-place finishes allowed his teammate to revel in being the sole Silver Arrows man, astride the top of the podium.

“I am expecting George, for sure, to be super-strong again in Canada,” said Antonelli, whose precocious talent, wide smile and curly hair have become an image for Italian sporting optimism following their football team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.

“He’s always been strong in Montreal and he won last year so I have to be ready and be fully focused. I will do my best.”

In addition to his hat-trick of pole, victory and fastest lap last year, Russell took pole at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2024 and would fancy his chances of winning both Saturday’s sprint race and Sunday’s Grand Prix.