Mercedes' Russell takes pole ahead of Antonelli for sprint race at F1’s Canadian GP

Mercedes driver George Russell, of United Kingdom, takes a turn during the practice session at the Formula One auto racing Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Friday, May 22, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

MONTREAL — George Russell won pole for Saturday’s sprint race at the Canadian Grand Prix, beating teammate and Formula One points leader Kimi Antonelli to secure a one-two for Mercedes on the starting grid.

Russell, last year’s race winner in Montreal, posted a fastest lap of one minute 12.965 seconds in qualifying Friday for the third sprint race of the season, happening for the first time in Montreal.

He edged Antonelli by 0.068 as Mercedes — winners of all four grands prix this season — introduced new upgrades this weekend.

Reigning F1 champion Lando Norris will line up third with McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the second row.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc sat fifth and sixth, followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar in seventh and eighth.

F1 introduced sprints in 2021. The shortened races cover roughly 100 kilometres, about one-third the distance of a grand prix, for a maximum of eight points. For reference, a grand prix victory is worth 25.

Antonelli, a 19-year-old Italian, has won three straight grand prix races to top the drivers’ championship with 100 points, 20 ahead of second-place Russell.

The day started with a disrupted practice session as Williams’ Alex Albon crashed into a groundhog on the exit of Turn 7, causing significant damage to his car and forcing him out of sprint qualifying.

Located on Île Notre-Dame in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is well known for featuring wildlife, especially groundhogs.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton also hit one last year during the grand prix, calling it “devastating.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2026.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press