By The Sports Editorial Team
Kimi Antonelli claimed victory at the Formula 1 Lenovo Grand Prix du Canada 2026 in Montreal, winning the fifth race of the season for Mercedes, after a race shaped by changing conditions, early strategy calls, and an intense intra‑team battle. The rising Italian talent claimed his fourth consecutive Grand Prix win, finishing ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, and extending his lead in the championship.
Uncertain weather ahead of the start split the grid on tire choices, with some teams opting for intermediate compounds that quickly proved ineffective as the track dried. Early tire choices briefly shuffled the running order, but by the opening laps Mercedes controlled the fight at the front, with teammates Antonelli and George Russell forming the central contest. Having locked out the front row, the pair ran closely matched through the first half, trading positions and pushing each other through a series of aggressive exchanges.
Antonelli out front in Montreal, en route to a fourth consecutive win. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
On lap 30, Russell retired from the lead with a power unit failure, ending what had been the defining fight of the race. The moment reshaped the race, with Antonelli moving into control and managing the gap to the finish. As the order behind evolved, Lewis Hamilton emerged as the primary mover in the closing stages, overtaking Verstappen late to secure second place, while the Red Bull driver completed the podium with his first podium of the season.
Louis Vuitton Trophy Trunk in Montreal, bearing two victory patches for Antonelli and 2025 winner George Russell. Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
The Grand Prix trophy was presented in a bespoke Louis Vuitton Trophy Trunk, highlighting the House’s role as Official Partner of Formula 1. This year introduces a new element, the Victory Patch, applied after each race and marked with the winner’s initials. The addition transforms the Trophy Trunk into a cumulative record. Following Montreal, Antonelli’s initials were added alongside those of George Russell, winner of the Canadian Grand Prix in 2025.