George Russell wins Canadian GP sprint after fierce battles and early clash
George Russell took victory in the Canadian Grand Prix sprint race after starting from pole position. The event, held as the fifth round of the 22-race F1 season, saw intense battles on track, including a clash between Russell and Kimi Antonelli on the opening lap. Russell held off early pressure from Lando Norris, who eventually crossed the line in second place. The two drivers fought closely, but the Mercedes driver kept the lead until the finish.
On the first corner, Russell and Antonelli made contact, forcing the young Italian off the track. Antonelli later accused Russell of pushing him wide, though stewards took no action. Russell defended his move, calling it hard but fair racing.
Antonelli recovered to secure third place, while Oscar Piastri finished fourth. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton followed in fifth and sixth, respectively. Max Verstappen, who started further back, managed seventh, with Arvid Lindblad taking eighth.
Meanwhile, Norris—competing as the only Canadian driver in the field—finished 16th after switching to Aston Martin for the race.
With this result, Russell reduced his championship lead to 18 points. The sprint race in Canada delivered tight competition and a key win for Russell. Antonelli’s podium finish kept the title fight close, while Norris struggled in his home event. The championship now moves on to the next round with momentum shifting between the top contenders.
