Formula 1 started the week still echoing the 2026 Canadian GP, especially after the penalty applied to George Russell and the developments of the race in Montreal. The Mercedes driver was fined by the FIA after throwing the car’s headrest onto the track when abandoning the race during the intense battle for the lead against Kimi Antonelli.
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Russell acknowledged the exaggeration and apologized to the marshals and the FIA. The financial penalty was 5,000 euros, suspended for 12 months, while the abandonment allowed Antonelli to open a 43-point lead in the championship after another win in the season.
Another major topic of the day involved McLaren, which admitted a strategic error in Canada. The team explained that it opted for intermediate tires believing in better track conditions, but ended up losing performance at a decisive moment of the race. Oscar Piastri summarized the choice as mistaken, while Lando Norris abandoned the race after car problems.
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The FIA also analyzed other incidents from the GP. Nico Hülkenberg escaped punishment after an investigation involving a position battle in the race. Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas and Gabriel Bortoleto received sanctions after the Canadian GP, further increasing the activity behind the scenes after the stage in Montreal.
Among the protagonists of the race, Antonelli commented on the internal battle with Russell at Mercedes and stated that the fight would probably have continued until the last lap if the teammate had not abandoned. The young Italian highlighted the balance between the two cars and reinforced that the direct duel for the lead was one of the most intense moments of the Canadian race.
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