International motorsport journalists have highlighted the intense Mercedes team battle as the standout storyline from the Canadian Grand Prix, where Kimi Antonelli secured his fourth consecutive victory while teammate George Russell’s retirement dealt a significant blow to his championship hopes. The Guardian described the intra-team duel as a “textbook example of racing,” praising both drivers for their wheel-to-wheel combat that captivated viewers until Russell’s mechanical failure ended the contest midway through the race.
Antonelli’s dominant victory in Montreal has extended his championship lead to 43 points over Russell, prompting The Guardian to note it’s becoming “increasingly looks like a two-way title fight” between the Italian and his British teammate. The newspaper observed that Russell “will be wondering what he has to do to catch a break,” as his title ambitions took another serious hit in Canada. Spanish outlet Marca echoed these concerns, pointing out that Russell now sits closer to third place in the standings than to catching Antonelli.
The Spanish publication highlighted Mercedes’ growing championship concerns, noting that Charles Leclerc has closed the gap to Russell to just 13 points, creating pressure from behind while Antonelli pulls away at the front. Marca also analyzed the broader race dynamics, describing McLaren’s weekend as a “nightmare” due to poor tire strategy decisions, while Max Verstappen “rewarded” himself with a podium finish during what the outlet called a “difficult weekend” for the frustrated Dutchman.
Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport expressed growing confidence in Antonelli’s title prospects, celebrating how their driver from Bologna has achieved something unprecedented in Formula 1 history. The publication noted that Antonelli’s four consecutive victories represent a feat that even legends Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher never accomplished in their first winning streaks, with both stopping at three consecutive wins early in their careers.