Formula 1 Focus: Russell resurgent but Antonelli ascendant as rivalry well & truly begins

[p][b][a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wjfg7NIKKihPgUHxFJgyZ?si=nzQ1e4DwQq6PHNXDzqHnrg&nd=1&dlsi=7ecfa008ed884f15"]Listen to the article now via Spotify[/a].[/b][/p][p]Boasting unpredictable conditions, a challenging circuit and a history of huge drama, the Canadian Grand Prix always has the task of living up to high expectations, and boy did it do so in 2026.[/p][p]With six retirements, an unforgettable fight for the lead and a bit of rain thrown in for good measure, Montreal gave us some mayhem, some magic and the best race of the season so far.[/p][p]These are my main takeaways from it.[/p][h2]Antonelli & Russell's rivalry begins in breathtaking fashion[/h2][embed guid="dabc1c9e-dbf5-4704-aa58-d3eb56a54f49" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2058888313277120599" social-type="twitter" /][p]Just over a year in, the Mercedes lineup still felt like more of a partnership than a rivalry, despite the fact that they were the top two in the championship, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]George Russell[/a] usually comfortably ahead of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Kimi Antonelli[/a] last year and the two yet to really go wheel to wheel in 2026.[/p][p]Not anymore.[/p][p]Neither driver gave an inch to the other in either the sprint race or the main one, with the two going side by side, forcing each other off track and coming perilously close to colliding numerous times. It would have been unbearable to watch for Toto Wolff and the Mercedes crew, but was nothing short of thrilling for the rest of us.[/p][p]While an engine issue may have ended his challenge, it was a resurgent display from Russell, putting an end to three weekends of dominance from Antonelli. He was quicker in both qualifying sessions, albeit by the slimmest of margins, and successfully protected his lead in both races with some crafty and absolutely ruthless defending.[/p][p]However, he had to defend so hard because Antonelli was the quicker of the two in the races. Whenever he was behind Russell, the youngster was all over the back of him, and thanks to that superior pace, I think he would have ultimately passed and pulled away on Sunday even if the Brit hadn't retired.[/p][embed guid="5e0e5a5e-9a5d-411f-9878-cd0cb06d40bd" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2058704600258011383" social-type="twitter" /][p]The stronger race pace and the end result meant that Antonelli undeniably came out of the weekend as a bigger favourite for the title than he entered it as. [/p][p]Nevertheless, there were encouraging signs for those of us hoping for a title fight to remember. Russell was able to use his experience to keep his quicker teammate behind, Antonelli lacked the composure to stay ahead when he did pull off an overtake, and both were willing to push each other to the very limit and capable of doing so without crashing.[/p][p]More of the same, please.[/p][h2]Hamilton in happiest place in years[/h2][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Lewis Hamilton's[/a] second season at Ferrari has been an improvement on his first since the opening round, but it's clear now that the seven-time world champion is in his best place in years.[/p][p]After out-qualifying [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/leclerc-charles/KlCOSRub/"]Charles Leclerc[/a] on both Saturday and Sunday, he was much stronger than his teammate in the race too, fighting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a] for third and then second while the Monegasque scrapped the slower Red Bull of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hadjar-isack/8SAk38Ui/"]Isack Hadjar[/a].[/p][embed guid="9a944d71-56fe-41f2-a936-97e9292cbb97" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2058949463662862710" social-type="twitter" /][p]When he was overtaken by Verstappen early on, he was in danger of leaving Canada with a relatively disappointing result despite his strong weekend, but the veteran regrouped, caught the Dutchman and passed him with a beautiful move.[/p][p]That secured him a second-placed finish, his best result since joining Ferrari, and it was comfortably his best weekend as a whole in red too.[/p][p]He was absolutely beaming after the race, and with his last three years at Mercedes and his first at Ferrari all a struggle for him, it feels like this is the best shape he's been in for half a decade or so, on and off the track.[/p][p]And as history shows, a happy Hamilton takes some beating.[/p][embed guid="828e5584-5733-475f-adb2-67804f17e921" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2058718944610115914" social-type="twitter" /][image alt="Author" id="65a8a004-1a10-43cc-85a1-7a7e00bc0eb6" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e7ebd2c3-98d8-48b8-822a-a29d091e14a1" original-width="1200" original-height="380" /]