George Russell to start first in Canadian Grand Prix sprint race

Mercedes driver George Russell secured pole position for the sprint race at the Canadian Grand Prix after achieving the fastest time at the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit in Montreal. Russell, who previously won in Montreal in 2025, finished ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli during the qualifying session. Antonelli currently leads the drivers' championship standings with 100 points, maintaining a 20-point advantage over Russell. So far this season, Russell has secured one victory in Australia and currently holds fourth place in the overall rankings. Team principal Toto Wolff praised the performance of both drivers, noting the competitive dynamic between the two. The sprint race serves as a qualifying segment for the main Grand Prix event. Russell expressed satisfaction with his performance following a challenging previous race in Miami. Both Mercedes drivers are expected to continue their battle for position during the upcoming sprint event.