The fifth round of the 2026 F1 campaign saw Kimi Antonelli come out on top as he won his fourth successive grand prix.
However, the biggest talking point from the weekend was the tight scrap he had with team-mate George Russell, both in the sprint race and the grand prix.
Elsewhere, there was strategy drama for McLaren, while Max Verstappen’s latest quit threat has caused a stir.
Below, you can read how media from around the world reacted to the fifth round of the F1 season, the Canadian GP.
🇬🇧 The Telegraph – George Russell proved a point in Kimi Antonelli fight
George Russell walked away from the Canadian Grand Prix with zero points having suffered a heartbreaking power unit failure midway through the race.
The retirement came amid a frenzied battle with team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who extended his title advantage to 43 points at the chequered flag.
The Telegraph stated that the on-track battle, in isolation, was won by Russell as he entered the weekend needing “to lay down a marker to Antonelli”.
With 17 rounds left to go, there is still a lot of points to play for – and Russell proved that he is not one to lie down and take a beating.
🇪🇸 Marca – Kimi Antonelli ‘smells like a legendary driver’
Upon taking his fourth successive F1 victory, Antonelli has further added to the claim that he is the favourite for the championship this year.
The impressive performances from the 19-year-old are coming in just his second campaign, and while Marca is also playing into the ‘champion’ label, it goes a step further.
The Spanish publication writes that Antonelli has the makings of an all-time great.
While his career is still incredibly young, Antonelli’s leap from 2025 to 2026 has been quite remarkable.
Only two drivers have won an F1 title in their second season (not counting Juan Manuel Fangio, who won the second official season of the world championship) – they are, Jacques Villeneuve and Lewis Hamilton.
🇳🇱 De Telegraaf – Red Bull seeking Max Verstappen F1 future clarity
Max Verstappen painted an optimistic picture over his F1 future in Montreal, insisting he would be more keen to stick around in the sport if it shifts towards the 60/40 power unit split next year.
However, he highlighted that it would be “mentally not doable” to continue under the current configuration.
Verstappen claimed his first podium of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix, but a lot of the focus surrounding the Dutchman right now centres on his future.
De Telegraaf reports that Red Bull wants Verstappen to offer clarity on his 2027 position, but he is in no rush to confirm his spot.
🇮🇹 La Gazzetta dello Sport – The peace is over at Mercedes
The relationship between Russell and Antonelli was calm and well-mannered throughout the 2025 campaign as the latter found his footing in the sport.
While there have been no off-track skirmishes as of yet, the Canadian Grand Prix marked the first serious flashpoint between the two Silver Arrows entries.
Russell easily dominated Antonelli throughout the 2025 season, but he can do longer rest on his laurels now with such a margin existing in the drivers’ standings.
La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that the peaceful atmosphere that has existed in the Mercedes camp for some time is now over.
Are we due to see the return of the intensity the team had to manage from 2014 to 2016 wth Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg?
🇦🇺 Herald Sun – Oscar Piastri’s Montreal nightmare
It was a weekend to forget for Oscar Piastri and McLaren in Montreal as on race day, a decision to start the race on the intermediate tyre backfired.
After both cars pitted, Piastri’s attempts to recover up the order were hampered by a clumsy clash into the side of Alex Albon’s Williams.
The Herald Sun noted that it is “not the first time Piastri has paid a hefty price for his pit wall’s mistakes”.
The publication added that the “cold reality” for McLaren is that it no longer has the fastest car on the grid winning the race was a long shot, regardless of its starting tyre choice.
