Formula 1 heads to Montreal next for the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend - and the third sprint race of the 2026 season.
Kimi Antonelli continued his impressive start to the campaign with his third consecutive victory last time out in Miami. The Italian 19-year-old now has a 20-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell, who is eyeing a return to form at a track he won at last year.
PREVIEW: How Hamilton can channel winning spirit of Arsenal in Montreal
McLaren took a big step in Miami, with reigning world champion Lando Norris finishing second and teammate Oscar Piastri in third, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualified on the front row in an improved car.
It was a trickier weekend for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc punished with post-race penalties and Lewis Hamilton only finishing sixth. Hamilton is a seven-time winner around the Montreal street circuit and won his first-ever F1 race here back in 2007.
Follow live updates with The Independent at the Canadian Grand Prix
Read MoreHow Lewis Hamilton is seeking to evoke Arsenal’s success with Ferrari in Canada
Jenson Button explains what Lewis Hamilton must do to secure Ferrari future
Upbeat George Russell learns from Miami and looks forward to Canadian Grand Prix
F1 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- Round five of the 2026 F1 season takes place in Canada
- Montreal also hosts the third sprint weekend of the season
- George Russell on pole for the sprint; Antonelli 2nd; Norris 3rd
- Kimi Antonelli leads the world championship by 20 points
- PREVIEW: How Lewis Hamilton can channel winning spirit of Arsenal
F1 starting grid:
23:59 , Kieran Jackson1. George Russell
2. Kimi Antonelli
3. Lando Norris
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Charles Leclerc
7. Max Verstappen
8. Isack Hadjar
9. Arvid Lindblad
10. Carlos Sainz
11. Nico Hulkenberg
12. Gabriel Bortoleto
13. Franco Colapinto
14. Esteban Ocon
15. Ollie Bearman
16. Fernando Alonso
17. Sergio Perez
18. Lance Stroll
19. Pierre Gasly
20. Valtteri Bottas
21. Alex Albon
22. Liam Lawson
George Russell bids to begin F1 championship fightback with sprint pole in Canada
23:26 , Kieran JacksonGeorge Russell delivered a response to title challenger Kimi Antonelli by claiming pole for the Canadian Grand Prix sprint.
The Italian has won the last three races to turn the tables on his experienced team-mate and hold a 20-point advantage heading into this fifth round of the season.
Russell played down his deficit to the 19-year-old last time out in Miami by suggesting it was not a track he enjoyed but the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is – having claimed pole for the last two years and winning last season.
Full report below:
George Russell bids to begin F1 championship fightback with sprint pole in Canada
Top-10 in sprint qualifying
23:10 , Kieran Jackson1. George Russell
2. Kimi Antonelli
3. Lando Norris
4. Oscar Piastri
5. Lewis Hamilton
6. Charles Leclerc
7. Max Verstappen
8. Isack Hadjar
9. Arvid Lindblad
10. Carlos Sainz
George Russell after claiming pole:
22:51 , Kieran Jackson”This is an amazing circuit, high grip, feels like you're driving a Formula 1 car.
The team have done a great job to bring the upgrade forward, pleased to be back in P1, it's been a little while.”
Russell retains pole
22:37 , Kieran JacksonRussell pips Antonelli to pole... JUST!
The Brit went quicker at the end and pipped the Italian by 0.068 secs - with Lando Norris in third, three-tenths down.
4-10: Piastri, Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Hadjar, Kindblad, Sainz
George Russell on provisional pole
22:32 , Kieran JacksonRussell takes pole to start with a 1:13:194 - 0.217 secs ahead of Lewis Hamilton in second!
3-10: Antonelli, Verstappen, Hadjar, Piastri, Leclerc, Lindblad, Norris, Sainz
Can Hamilton get ahead with his second lap?
SQ3 underway
22:27 , Kieran JacksonHere we go then - the quickfire eight-minute top-10 shootout!
Drivers involved: Russell, Antonelli, Hamilton, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Verstappen, Hadjar, Sainz, Lindblad
Verstappen escapes in P9
22:21 , Kieran JacksonIn the end, nobody bothered Verstappen! That being said, he’s complaining his car is “jumpy” - not ideal heading into SQ3.
Carlos Sainz nicks back 10th from Nico Hulkenberg right at the death.
Out in SQ2 (11-16): Hulkenberg, Bortoleto, Colapinto, Ocon, Bearman, Alonso
Verstappen only ninth-fastest
22:17 , Kieran JacksonIs the Red Bull man in trouble here?!
Sainz in 10th, followed by: Bortoleto, Colapinto, Ocon, Bearman, Hulkenberg, Alonso
Last laps in now....
George Russell quickest so far
22:14 , Kieran JacksonRussell goes fastest by 0.085 secs to his teammate Antonelli, with Hamilton a further tenth back in third.
A reminder: Fernando Alonso will stay in P16 as he won’t take part due to that crash.
Current bottom-six (11-16): Bortoleto, Hulkenberg, Piastri, Leclerc, Verstappen, Alonso
4:00 to go in SQ2.
SQ2 underway
22:08 , Kieran JacksonTime for the second session to see who makes the top-10 shootout.
10 minutes this time - again all on mediums.
Gasly out
22:03 , Kieran JacksonOnly 3 cars made it over the line - and Lance Stroll couldn’t improve his time.
Very anticlimactic end to the session! Pierre Gasly has to take a surprise SQ1 exit.
Out in SQ1 (17-22): Perez, Stroll, Gasly, Bottas, Albon, Lawson
SQ1 back underway
22:00 , Kieran JacksonSainz and Stroll are the first cars out.
Who will make it round in time?!
Resumption in 2 mins
21:58 , Kieran JacksonA rapidly big queue in the pit-lane as a start time is announced for 9:59pm.
It’s around a 1:15 lap - and there’s 1:46 left.
Some should make it round to set another lap... but some will definitely miss out!
Still no start time yet
21:55 , Kieran JacksonThe barrier has endured some significant damage here, so they just need to repair the tecpro.
Alonso:
21:51 , Kieran Jackson“We are a bit behind, we don’t have the pace. Yet we were pushing hard.”
Red flag
21:43 , Kieran JacksonThe irony is that Alonso is currently safe in 14th!
Current bottom-six (17-22): Perez, Stroll, Gasly, Bottas, Albon, Lawson
Fernando Alonso crashes
21:41 , Kieran JacksonAlonso is in the wall at turn 3!
From bad to worse for Aston Martin!
1:46 left in SQ1. RED FLAG.
Lewis Hamilton quickest
21:39 , Kieran JacksonThe Ferrari driver has looked impressive so far and is fastest early on in SQ1.
A reminder that Alex Albon and Liam Lawson will not take part in sprint qualifying due to the damage to their cars earlier.
Bottom-six (17-22) currently: Bottas, Colapinto, Stroll, Bortoleto, Albon (out), Lawson (out)
4 mins left in SQ1.
SQ1 underway
21:33 , Kieran JacksonTime for the first Q session - 12 minutes, all on mediums.
Will it be the usual collection of teams in the bottom-six to start?
Sprint qualifying coming up
21:26 , Kieran JacksonHere we go then - the first of four competitve sessions in Montreal this weekend!
Can anyone compete with Mercedes? Kimi Antonelli and George Russell were the clear leaders in practice earlier, with the Italian edging it.
It feels like a big session for Russell...
Top-10 - driver standings
21:20 , Kieran JacksonKimi Antonelli has a 20-point lead on George Russell heading into round five:
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 100 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) - 80 points
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 59 points
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 51 points
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 51 points
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 43 points
7. Max Verstappen Red Bull) - 26 points
8. Ollie Bearman (Haas) - 17 points
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - 16 points
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - 10 points
Lando Norris on his helmet in Canada:
21:15 , Kieran JacksonLando Norris' helmet for the Canadian GP is a special collaboration with the Race Against Dementia foundation 💜 pic.twitter.com/4fGdAUp2au
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 22, 2026
How Lewis Hamilton is seeking to evoke Arsenal’s success with Ferrari in Canada
21:11 , Kieran JacksonFor all the celebratory messages of jubilation emanating from the never-ending group of high-profile Arsenal supporters this week – from Sir Keir Starmer and Hugh Lawrie to Piers Morgan and Jess Glynne – Lewis Hamilton’s repost on Instagram was altogether more understated. “COYG,” the 41-year-old said, the common abbreviation for “Come on you Gunners.”
An Arsenal fan since he was five, Hamilton’s football fandom hit the realms of public discourse again four years ago, when he was part of a group of investors which, ultimately, failed to buy Chelsea. Many onlookers seemed stunned, not least Hamilton’s fierce rival Max Verstappen. “I am a PSV fan and I would never buy Ajax,” the Dutchman quipped, before adding: “I thought he was an Arsenal fan? And if you are an Arsenal fan going for Chelsea, that is quite interesting.”
Alas, it never materialised. Hamilton has also dipped his toes in the world of NFL, joining the Denver Broncos ownership group in 2022 after missing out on the Chelsea gig. And the Briton, seven times a champion of the world but only twice a grand prix race winner in the last four years and counting, would be wise to take a leaf out of as many sports as possible in his search for one final rebirth at the top of Formula 1.
Full piece below:
How Lewis Hamilton is seeking to evoke Arsenal’s success with Ferrari in Canada
Constructor standings ahead of Canadian GP
21:06 , Kieran Jackson1. Mercedes - 180 points
2. Ferrari - 112 points
3. McLaren - 94 points
4. Red Bull - 30 points
5. Alpine - 21 points
6. Haas - 18 points
7. Racing Bulls - 14 points
8. Williams - 5 points
9. Audi - 2 points
10. Cadillac - 0 points
11. Aston Martin - 0 points
VIDEO: Lewis Hamilton on Arsenal
21:00 , Kieran Jackson"I shed a tear!" 🥹
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 21, 2026
Lewis Hamilton reacts to Arsenal securing their first Premier League title in 22 years 🔴🏆 pic.twitter.com/jEmuQbwQGx
Four races in a row? Key details revealed as F1 eyes Bahrain or Saudi ‘reschedule’
20:45 , Kieran JacksonFormula One is “continuously evaluating” the possibility of reinstating one – if not two – of the Middle Eastern races cancelled last month due to the conflict in the Gulf.
The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs, scheduled for April, were taken off the 2026 calendar in mid-March, a fortnight after Donald Trump targeted missiles at Iranian military and government sites, provoking retaliatory strikes throughout the region.
However, recent noises from the sport’s American owners, Liberty Media, and the sport’s governing body, the FIA, suggest that solutions to rescheduling the cancelled races are on the table. In a conference call with investors last week, during which details of a 53 per cent year-on-year revenue rise were announced, Liberty Media CEO Derek Chang stated that executives were “continuously evaluating the calendar this year”.
Chang added: “As Stefano [Domenicali, F1 CEO] mentioned to Bloomberg News last week, it might be possible to reschedule one race toward the end of the season.” He did ensure that any decision would be made in a “timely fashion”.
But what are the options on the table? What is at stake? And could the end-of-season races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi also be at risk?
Full piece below:
Four races in a row? Key details revealed as F1 eyes Bahrain or Saudi ‘reschedule’
James Vowles on Albon's crash in FP1:
20:31 , Kieran Jackson"It's one of the risks of this circuit. I know that sounds strange," Williams team principal James Vowles told Sky Sports. "Unfortunately there's been a few of these.
"He [Albon] has hit a marmot [groundhog] and the damage is extensive from that point onwards.
"He needed this session. You get 60 minutes and that's it, and to lose over half of it is frustrating.
"Back in the garage he's more worried about his mum, who suspects he's going to have to pay to adopt a family of marmots because that's a consequence of that."
Jenson Button explains what Lewis Hamilton must do to secure Ferrari future
20:15 , Kieran Jackson"Obviously, last year was not the easiest for Lewis. He spent so many years in a team (Mercedes) that he knew really well, and had a lot of support from that team. Then, you go to a different team that is based in Italy, and he doesn’t speak Italian. He doesn’t have that on his side, whereas his team-mate does."
The 2009 world champion added: "So, it does take a minute to get used to it, especially at 40 years old when learning is a lot more difficult than it is in your twenties. But it has been really good to see him competitive this year, and fighting with Charles."
Button emphasised the importance of current form, as he claimed, "as long as you’re competitive the (external) noise doesn’t really matter. If he is as quick as he thinks he should be, then it is fine, and it doesn’t matter what other people say from the outside. If he is doing a job that he thinks is good enough, then he will have that confidence and want to carry on if he is enjoying it."
VIDEO: Ocon's crash in FP1
20:01 , Kieran JacksonEsteban Ocon crashes hard at the exit of Turn 4 and the red flag is out! 🚩 pic.twitter.com/qgcNXY8bSt
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) May 22, 2026
George Russell biggest F1 fight is with team-mate Kimi Antonelli – Lando Norris
19:45 , Kieran JacksonNorris believes Russell has the mettle for the title scrap – one which Norris and McLaren would very much like to muscle their way into – but says having a dangerous challenger across the garage will make life much harder.
“I think any situation that he’s ever dealt with is different to fighting for a world championship,” Norris said.
“Forget everything that’s ever happened, I think as soon as you’re fighting for a world championship, and then you also have a strong team-mate, that’s a very different situation.
“The last few years, I’ve had a very strong team-mate that as soon as I wasn’t on my A game, I was way off. That always makes your life a lot, lot tougher.”
Reminder of start times this weekend in Canada:
19:27 , Kieran JacksonAll times BST
Friday 22 May
- Sprint qualifying: 9:30pm
Saturday 23 May
- Sprint race: 5pm
- Qualifying: 9pm
Sunday 24 May
- Race: 9pm
P11-22 in FP1
19:18 , Kieran Jackson11. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
12. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
13. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
14. Alex Albon (Williams)
15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
17. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
18. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
19. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
21. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
22. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
Top-10 in FP1
19:06 , Kieran Jackson1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1:13.402
2. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.142
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.774
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.953
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.964
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +1.397
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +1.561
8. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +2.050
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) +2.296
10. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +2.461
Kimi Antonelli fastest in FP1
18:55 , Kieran JacksonThe cars are going back around the track briefly at the end of the session - but that is it in terms of timed laps!
Kimi Antonelli, with that late effort, is top of the tree again - a tenth faster than his Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton (+0.774) is a respectable third, with Charles Leclerc (+0.953) in fourth. Ferrari will be happy with that.
5-10: Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Lindblad, Hulkenberg, Alonso
Esteban Ocon crashes
18:45 , Kieran JacksonAnother crash, another red flag!
Ocon has hit the wall after a spin!
He drives his Haas car back to the pits without a nose.
That may well mark the end of the session in anger...
Kimi Antonelli goes top
18:40 , Kieran JacksonBit of a statement from the championship leader at the end of FP1, as he goes 0.142 secs clear of Russell at the top.
Final laps coming in now...
Lewis Hamilton goes third fastest
18:35 , Kieran JacksonSeven times a winner around here, Hamilton goes third on the leaderboard - however at nine-tenths off Russell in P1, that’s some margin.
Entering the final 15 minutes of FP1 now...
Mercedes one-two early on
18:23 , Kieran JacksonGeorge Russell is the one setting the early pace with a 1:45:560 - a tenth clear of Kimi Antonelli.
Oscar Piastri is third, four-tenths off, with Lando Norris in fourth.
5-10: Leclerc, Hamilton, Lindblad, Verstappen, Alonso, Hadjar
Half-an-hour to go in FP1.
Green flag
18:15 , Kieran JacksonFinally, we’re back on track.
They’ve extended the session again and there’s now 34 minutes left on the clock.
Again, right decision.
Albon crash
18:10 , Kieran JacksonAfraid to say, replays from Albon’s on-board camera shows he actually ran over a groundhog, resulting in his crash.
Still no restart time announced.
Albon crash
18:06 , Kieran Jackson🔴 RED FLAG 🔴
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 22, 2026
Alex Albon has had a crash in his Williams 😱
He is out of the car and ok#F1 #CanadianGP pic.twitter.com/jca4LWx6ot
Alex Albon crashes
17:59 , Kieran JacksonBig old shunt here gives us the second red flag of the session!
Albon in the wall just before turn 8. He’s all OK. No replays yet...
FP1 back underway
17:48 , Kieran JacksonA four-minute delay - and new info from the FIA that FP1 will be extended by four minutes as a result.
Sensible.
Liam Lawson stops
17:42 , Kieran JacksonThe New Zealander has stopped after the first chicane.
No steering. And he’s jumping out!
RED FLAG just 10 minutes into first practice.
FP1 trial - FIA statement:
17:39 , Kieran Jackson“During FP1 we'll be trialling a new rear lights system for MGUK power derating. This follows driver feedback from the first few events.
“The trial introduces a colour code system to differentiate between MGUK states: MGUK no longer at full power, MGUK fully cut, and superclip. Previously, these were all indicated by a flashing red pattern.
“We'll revert to the standard rear lights system for the rest of the weekend and assess next steps based on feedback from teams and drivers.”
Franco Colapinto:
17:34 , Kieran Jackson“My throttle is not working.”
You might need that, Franco! Not an ideal start for the Alpine driver...
FP1 underway
17:31 , Kieran JacksonA very important session, then, given the sprint weekend format.
Just one hour of practice around this popular street circuit...
‘Get used to it’ – Lewis Hamilton insists he is staying put in Formula One
17:24 , Kieran JacksonThe 41-year-old insists his future is clear in his mind.
“I am still under contract so everything is 100 per cent clear to me,” Hamilton said ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix.
“I’m still focused, I’m still motivated and I still love what I do with all my heart.
“I’m going to be here for quite some time so get used to it. There are people that are trying to retire me and that is not even in my thoughts.
“I’m already thinking of what will be next and planning for the next five years but I still plan to be here for some time.”
What are the start times this weekend?
17:01 , Kieran JacksonAll times BST
Friday 22 May
- Free practice 1: 5:30pm
- Sprint qualifying: 9:30pm
Saturday 23 May
- Sprint race: 5pm
- Qualifying: 9pm
Sunday 24 May
- Race: 9pm
F1 Canadian Grand Prix
17:00 , Kieran JacksonFormula 1 heads to Montreal next for the Canadian Grand Prix this weekend - and the third sprint race of the 2026 season.
Kimi Antonelli continued his impressive start to the campaign with his third consecutive victory last time out in Miami. The Italian 19-year-old now has a 20-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell, who is eyeing a return to form at a track he won at last year.
McLaren took a big step in Miami, with reigning world champion Lando Norris finishing second and teammate Oscar Piastri in third, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualified on the front row in an improved car.
It was a trickier weekend for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc punished with post-race penalties and Lewis Hamilton only finishing sixth. Hamilton is a seven-time winner around the Montreal street circuit and won his first-ever F1 race here back in 2007.
