Mercedes delivered an impressive statement during the opening practice session of the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix weekend, with young championship leader Kimi Antonelli setting the fastest time in a dramatic and incident-filled session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The Italian teenager continued his outstanding form by leading a Mercedes one-two finish ahead of teammate George Russell, further strengthening the team’s growing momentum in this year’s Formula One championship battle.
Antonelli produced a best lap of 1:13.402 during the only practice session of the sprint weekend, placing him comfortably ahead of Russell by just over one tenth of a second. The performance immediately increased confidence inside the Mercedes garage, especially as the team introduced its first major upgrade package of the season in Canada. Early signs suggest the new aerodynamic improvements may have significantly boosted Mercedes’ competitiveness heading into the remainder of the race weekend.
The Canadian Grand Prix weekend carries additional importance because it is being held in sprint format, meaning teams had only a single practice session to understand car balance, tyre performance, and setup before competitive sessions begin. This increased pressure on drivers and engineers, with every lap becoming extremely valuable as teams rushed to gather as much data as possible in limited time.
Behind the dominant Mercedes pair, Ferrari also showed encouraging pace. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton finished third fastest, while teammate Charles Leclerc secured fourth place. Ferrari appeared competitive throughout the session, although the team still remained several tenths behind Mercedes’ leading pace. Hamilton, who has historically enjoyed great success at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, looked particularly comfortable around the fast and technical Montreal circuit.
Max Verstappen completed the top five for Red Bull Racing, continuing a somewhat challenging period for the Milton Keynes-based team. Although Verstappen remained close to Ferrari’s pace, Red Bull did not appear as dominant as in previous seasons. The Dutchman still managed to extract strong performance from the car despite reports suggesting the team continues working through balance and development concerns under the latest regulations.
McLaren, meanwhile, endured a relatively quiet session compared to its main championship rivals. Reigning world champion Lando Norris finished sixth, while Oscar Piastri placed seventh. Although McLaren remained competitive, the team appeared unable to match the outright pace shown by Mercedes and Ferrari during the early stages of the weekend. However, with changing track conditions and limited practice time, many within the paddock still expect McLaren to remain a strong contender once qualifying begins.
The session itself was far from smooth, with several incidents causing multiple interruptions and red flags throughout the hour. One of the earliest problems involved Liam Lawson, who reportedly suffered a power steering failure that forced him to stop on track. Later in the session, Alex Albon experienced an unusual incident after colliding with a groundhog near the circuit, causing visible damage to his car and bringing another interruption.
Another major incident involved Esteban Ocon, whose session ended after a crash left debris scattered across the circuit. The Haas driver lost control and damaged the front section of his car, forcing marshals to temporarily halt the session while cleanup operations took place. The repeated interruptions created frustration for several teams, particularly because the sprint weekend format offers no additional practice opportunities before competitive running begins.
George Russell also experienced a dramatic moment near the end of the session when he spun at Turn Two and lightly brushed the barriers. Fortunately for Mercedes, the Briton avoided major damage and still managed to secure second place behind Antonelli. Despite the late mistake, Russell’s performance confirmed Mercedes’ strong overall pace around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
One of the surprise performances of the session came from Arvid Lindblad, who finished eighth for Racing Bulls. The young driver once again demonstrated impressive speed and maturity, continuing to strengthen his reputation as one of Formula One’s most exciting emerging talents. Nico Hulkenberg secured ninth for Audi, while Fernando Alonso completed the top ten for Aston Martin.
The Canadian Grand Prix remains one of Formula One’s most iconic races, with the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve famous for its challenging layout, heavy braking zones, and the notorious “Wall of Champions.” The track’s low-downforce configuration and stop-start nature often create unpredictable races filled with overtaking opportunities, safety cars, and dramatic moments.
This year’s Canadian Grand Prix is also historic because it marks the first sprint race weekend ever held in Canada. The compressed schedule increases pressure on teams and drivers, as mistakes become far more costly when there is limited time available for setup changes and recovery.
Mercedes’ strong start will undoubtedly become one of the biggest talking points heading into sprint qualifying. Antonelli’s sensational form has already transformed the championship picture this season, with the 19-year-old currently leading the standings after winning the previous three races. His rapid rise has made him one of Formula One’s brightest stars, while Mercedes now appears firmly positioned as the team to beat at this stage of the campaign.
With Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren all still searching for answers, the remainder of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend promises to deliver intense competition. Teams will now analyse data gathered during the disrupted practice session as they prepare for sprint qualifying and the main race ahead. After such a chaotic opening session, anticipation across the Formula One paddock continues to grow as the battle for victory in Montreal begins to take shape.
