Oscar Piastri's Canadian GP Disaster as Kimi Antonelli Secures Fourth Consecutive F1 Win

Oscar Piastri has suffered a disastrous day in Canada, as Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli made it four consecutive Formula 1 grand prix victories.

The Victorian had an outside chance of victory at the start of the Canadian Grand Prix on Monday morning, AEST, starting his McLaren fourth on the grid.

In cold and damp conditions, with many fearing rain could fall in Montreal, McLaren made the bold decision to start both Piastri and teammate Lando Norris on intermediate tyres when the track was still dry.

Piastri was sceptical of the decision, especially when an extra formation lap was called after Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad stalled on the grid.

"It feels like the rain has stopped. I think it is time for slicks — shall we box?" Piastri said over the radio.

When a second extra formation lap was called as Lindblad's car was still being wheeled off the circuit, Piastri again called for the team to cut their losses and pit.

"These inters are a mistake now."

Despite the fear, and the drizzle before the race start, the rain just never came and McLaren was left to rue its mistake.

Despite being on the wrong tyres, Norris was able to launch off the line and snatch the lead away from pole sitter George Russell.

Piastri dropped from fourth to fifth and pitted for dry tyres at the end of the first lap. Norris, who valiantly held the lead for a second lap, then had no choice but to pit.

Trying to fight back through the field, Piastri went for a move on Haas driver Oliver Bearman. But the Australian could not slow his car down quickly enough and he clattered into the side of Williams driver Alex Albon, who was ahead of both he and Bearman.

Piastri pitted for a new front wing and was then handed a 10-second penalty, ending any chance of scoring points.

Piastri would make a pair of late overtakes to finish 11th, and out of the points.

Meanwhile, Norris was recovering nicely and was back in the top 10 before his car came to a stop on lap 40 of 68.

Antonelli wins after teammate Russell retires from the lead

Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli won a fourth consecutive grand prix, after his teammate suffered a power unit failure while leading the race.

After being jumped by McLaren's Lando Norris at the start, before Norris pitted at the end of the second lap following a failed tyre gamble, Antonelli and Russell engaged in a hard-fought, thrilling 30-lap battle for the lead.

Russell, who won the previous day's sprint race, was leading on lap 30 when his Mercedes came to a halt on the road with a suspected power unit failure.

It was a bitter end for the Briton, who is now 43 points behind Antonelli after five rounds.

"Just everything turned off all of a sudden. Engine stopped, no electronics. A bit lost for words," Russell told Sky Sports as the grand prix was still ongoing.

"I'm proud of my weekend. Pole in the sprint, won the sprint, pole [for the grand prix], leading when I stopped.

"Nothing more I could have done this weekend. I'm pretty damn frustrated with what happened."

With his main rival out, Antonelli drove without pressure to become the first driver to take his first four F1 grand prix victories consecutively.

"It was a really fun battle with George. We were on the limit and it was not easy today with the wind," Antonelli said of his battle with Russell.

"One lap he locked up, and I went in front, and then I locked up, and he went ahead.

"It was a shame for him to have the failure, as we would have had a close battle, but we will take it."

With Russell's retirement and McLaren's strategy failure, Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Max Verstappen were able to snatch podium finishes.

Verstappen took second place when Russell retired, and held that position for 32 of the remaining 38 laps.

But Hamilton chipped away at what had been a six-second deficit and, after several attempts in previous laps, made the decisive move into the first turn of lap 62.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fourth, not able to keep pace with Hamilton and Verstappen ahead.

Despite being handed a 10-second penalty, and a stop-go penalty, Red Bull's Isack Hadjar placed a season-best fifth.

That result is the first time in 46 grand prix that a Red Bull driver other than Verstappen has finished in the top five.

Franco Colapinto (Alpine) claimed sixth place.

Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) withstood a late challenge from Pierre Gasly (Alpine) in the battle for seventh and eighth.

Williams driver Carlos Sainz came home ninth, while Oliver Bearman (Haas) claimed the final point-scoring position.