Racing Bulls’ New Zealand driver Liam Lawson races during the 2026 Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal.
Photo: ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP
Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli took his fourth win in a row after a power unit failure forced Mercedes team-mate and title rival George Russell out of the Canadian Grand Prix before the half-distance.
Russell, starting on pole, had traded the lead with Antonelli in a thrilling battle before coming to a halt by the side of the track on the 30th of 68 laps at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton took second place, 10.7 seconds behind the 19-year-old Italian, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen a close third and taking his first podium of the season.
Antonelli increased his lead over Russell from 18 to 43 points after five grands prix, all won by Mercedes, and three Saturday sprints.
Mercedes F1 driver Kimi Antonelli celebrates.
Photo: Eric Alonso / PHOTOSPORT
New Zealander Liam Lawson finished seventh after what he called a disappointing qualifying.
He started in 12th place, although that improved to 11th when Racing Bulls team-mate Arvid Lindblad was unable to start because of a mechanical issue.
Lawson made up a number of places on the opening lap and soon settled into eighth position.
He improved to seventh with Russell’s retirement and finished with an inquiry hanging over his head after a possible infringement during a yellow flag.
Lawson battled with Alpine driver Pierre Gasly over the closing laps but held onto seventh place.
It is the 24-year-old New Zealanders fourth points grab of the season after sprint and GP points in China and a GP top ten finish in Japan.
There was no immediate outcome for the inquiry so Lawson provisionally picks up six points and drops one spot to 11th in the Drivers’ Championship.
The next round is in Monaco on 7 June.
– Reuters with additional reporting from RNZ