Montreal witnessed one of the most dramatic and historic turns in the modern history of motorsport. The Canadian Grand Prix, the fifth round of the 2026 season, ended not just with a victory, but with the establishment of a unique record that may never be repeated. The 19-year-old Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli from 'Mercedes' did not simply win the race — he overturned the notion of how quickly one can dominate the elite of motorsport.
A Historic Winning Streak
Antonelli entered history as the first driver in the history of the 'King of Races' to secure four consecutive victories. For the 'Mercedes' team, this was an absolute triumph: the German concern won all five opening rounds of the season, demonstrating overwhelming superiority. The Italian rookie not only solidified his lead in the championship but also pulled 43 points ahead of his teammate George Russell, turning the internal team battle into a one-sided affair.
Chaos at the Start and Tactical Errors
The race in Montreal did not start according to plan. The start lights went out, but the race did not begin: a serious malfunction occurred on Arvid Lindblad's car ('Racing Bulls'), forcing the driver to be evacuated. This forced all participants to complete an additional warm-up lap, adding tension before the start.
But the real drama unfolded in the thick of the battle. The dignified world champion Lando Norris, on whom huge hopes were pinned, made a fatal mistake in pit stop strategy. An attempt to save time turned into a disaster: the gearbox of his 'McLaren' could not withstand the load, and the Briton left the fight prematurely. Expert predictions that Norris would challenge 'Mercedes' collapsed in an instant.
Russell's Catastrophe and Verstappen's Podium
The most tense moment of the race occurred on lap 30. George Russell, fighting fiercely with Antonelli for the lead, nearly caused an accident, but fate intervened differently — his 'Mercedes' stalled due to an engine failure. This cleared the way for the Italian to achieve a historic victory.
While 'Mercedes' celebrated success, 'Red Bull' finally broke their streak of bad luck. Max Verstappen, despite a difficult start to the season, managed to fight his way onto the podium, taking third place. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton also showed his class, executing a series of brilliant overtakes and passing the Dutchman, which allowed the Austrian team to slightly close the gap in the Constructors' Championship.
Results and Prospects
The race in Canada was a sitcom for many teams. Alexander Albon, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso, and Arvid Lindblad retired early. For 'Mercedes', this was an ideal scenario; for 'McLaren', a catastrophe; and for 'Red Bull', a long-awaited relief.
Now the motorsport world prepares for the season's main test. In just two weeks, on June 7, the legendary Grand Prix will take place on the Monaco circuit, becoming the sixth round of the championship and potentially introducing new twists to the title fight.