The Italian endured a tense 30-lap battle with Mercedes teammate George Russell for the lead, with the pair exchanging positions multiple times in one of the most entertaining fights at the front in recent memory, before disaster struck Russell.
The Briton pulled off the circuit in a plume of smoke while attempting to keep his teammate behind him, retiring on Lap 30 and bringing an abrupt end to a thrilling duel that had kept fans on edge throughout the opening half of the race.
From there, Antonelli was never challenged, eventually finishing 10.7s clear of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, while Max Verstappen claimed third to secure his first podium finish of the 2026 season.
Russell wasn’t the only driver to endure a nightmare afternoon, with McLaren suffering a disastrous race in Montreal.
After gambling on intermediate tyres at the start, both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris immediately found themselves on the back foot.
Piastri eventually finished 11th after receiving a mid-race penalty for a collision with Alex Albon, while Norris failed to finish after retiring on Lap 40.
McLaren’s struggles benefited Ferrari, with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finishing second and fourth respectively, while Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar claimed fifth.
The victory extends Antonelli’s lead in the drivers’ championship to 43 points over Russell, while Leclerc now sits just two points behind the Briton in the standings.
More to come
