'This fight is on': Mercedes will need to manage m...
Key takeaways
- "Right now, it's [Antonelli's] to lose," Russell said defensively as the race continued to unfold on TV screens behind him.
- With 17 race weekends -- including three sprint races -- remaining, and 449 points still up for grabs this season, such talk is undoubtedly premature.
- But Russell's frustration is entirely understandable.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Mark Sutton - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images Laurence Edmondson May 25, 2026, 12:00 AM ETClose• Joined ESPN in 2009 • An FIA accredited F1 journalist since 2011Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions MONTREAL -- Mercedes driver George Russell cut a dejected figure following the power unit failure that forced him to retire from Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix. As his teammate Kimi Antonelli continued to blast around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve en route to a fourth-consecutive victory and a 43-point lead in the standings, Russell faced questions about what it all meant for his 2026 title chances.
"Right now, it's [Antonelli's] to lose," Russell said defensively as the race continued to unfold on TV screens behind him. "He's so many points ahead, it feels like the gods don't want me to be in this fight."
With 17 race weekends -- including three sprint races -- remaining, and 449 points still up for grabs this season, such talk is undoubtedly premature. Just look at last year's title fight for proof of how readily a championship picture can change, and how quickly such statements can be forgotten: McLaren's Oscar Piastri held a 34-point lead over teammate Lando Norris and a 104-point lead over Red Bull's Max Verstappen, with nine races remaining. By the end of the season, those gaps had turned into points deficits of 13 and 11, respectively.