George Russell wins Canadian Grand Prix sprint race after teammate clash

George Russell won the 23-lap sprint race at the Canadian Grand Prix, held at the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit. Russell maintained his lead despite intense competition, marking his second sprint victory of the 2026 season. The race was defined by a significant on-track conflict between Mercedes teammates Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who made contact at turn one during the sixth lap. While some reports suggest a near-miss, others claim a collision occurred, with Antonelli openly criticizing Russell for pushing him off the track. Lando Norris of McLaren Racing capitalized on the intra-team battle to finish in second place, successfully holding off Antonelli, who ultimately took third. The Mercedes drivers had started from the front row, with Lewis Hamilton finishing fourth after overtaking Oscar Piastri. Despite the internal tension, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised the competitive spirit of both drivers.