By Razeen Gutta
Kimi Antonelli made it four wins in a row at the Canadian Grand Prix after Mercedes teammate George Russell retired from the lead with a suspected power-unit failure on lap 30.
The Montreal race delivered a tense intra-team fight, with the pair trading places multiple times before Russell’s car stopped while they were nose-to-tail.
Antonelli appeared to have a pace edge just before the retirement.
Russell’s exit is a huge setback for his title hopes.
Antonelli now leads the championship by 43 points, nearly two full victories clear of his teammate.
Tension had been building since Saturday’s sprint, where Antonelli accused Russell of forcing him off track. On Sunday, both were warned by Mercedes to keep the racing “tidy” or team orders would be imposed.
Before the retirement, the lead changed hands repeatedly.
Russell jumped ahead at the final chicane on lap six, forcing Antonelli through the runoff. Lock-ups at the hairpin saw them swap positions several times, with Antonelli once ordered to hand back the lead after cutting the chicane while alongside Russell.
Elsewhere, McLaren’s race unraveled due to an early tyre strategy error, while Max Verstappen gave Red Bull their first podium of the season.
Pictured above: Kimi Antonelli
Source: @kimi.antonelli
