Mercedes driver George Russell secured his fourth career race win at the Canadian Grand Prix, fending off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in a thrilling battle on Sunday. The race, held at the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, saw Russell start on pole for the second consecutive year and maintain his lead throughout the sunny afternoon.

Russell’s victory made him the fourth race winner of the season, joining the likes of Formula One leader Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and Verstappen. The British driver showcased his skill and composure as he held off Verstappen, who had previously clashed with Russell at the Spanish GP.

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed by securing a podium finish, coming in third behind Verstappen after a strong performance that saw him overtake Piastri early in the race. The podium result marked Antonelli as the third-youngest F1 podium finisher in history.

The race took a dramatic turn when McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collided on the 67th lap, leading to Norris’s retirement from the race. Piastri, who had been enjoying an eight-race podium streak, finished fourth, ending McLaren’s hopes of a top-three finish.

Piastri’s performance in Montreal extended his lead in the championship standings over Norris, with Verstappen trailing closely behind. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and sixth respectively, while Lance Stroll of Aston Martin faced a penalty for an incident with Pierre Gasly.

The Canadian Grand Prix drew a crowd of 352,000 spectators, including celebrities like Ben Stiller and athletes such as Summer McIntosh and Nick Suzuki. The event was a stark contrast to the previous year’s weather disruptions, with sunny skies greeting fans over the race weekend.

With the Canadian GP set to return to Circuit Gilles Villeneuve next year, fans can look forward to more thrilling F1 action at the iconic track. The series now heads to Austria for the next race on June 29, promising more excitement and competition among the drivers.