Montreal 2026, the other podium

F1 Canada, the report cards of those promoted 1. Mercedes. Net of the controversies over starts, engines, ratios, compressions; net of the consequent superiority in every condition; even excluding a track like Montreal, one of the very few to console it in lean times. It’s not about winning, but how to win: in the last five seasons, Mercedes has fearlessly bet on Russell, greeting seven world titles, and has done the same with Antonelli. Now he finds them in his head and allows them to mock each other one day and the next too and for a longer time. And thank goodness, because otherwise the Sprint and a large part of the race would have been unwatchable. And then, above all, because we have a championship (and it’s not a given, if the W17 were a Red Bull we would have a World Championship that ended in June). A grandiose Antonelli is trying to bring him back to Italy after 73 years, but Russell will make up for it: the intermittent dandy is going slower overall, but not enough to deserve a -43. 2. Lewis Hamilton. Perhaps the best red dress weekend. At ease throughout the weekend, he pushes like a devil and is constantly faster than Leclerc, who finishes at 33″: gaps he was giving to Bottas. But Hamilton has always been like this: if everything goes the way he wants it becomes a fantastic exclamation point, stopping him becomes difficult even if your name is Max Verstappen, even if Sir is 41 years old. In these days a little boy returns, even after the checkered flag, when he cuddles Antonelli like a little brother under the amused gaze of Max. Three generations on a podium that will hopefully become iconic. 3. Franco Colapinto. Here’s another one that seems rather moody, as concentrated in the best moments as it is harmful in a less performing context. Best result in F1 for the Gaucho and a wonderful response after risking his seat for 2026. Mention for Sergio Perez, who finishes close to the top-10 in the Sprint, forgetting that he is driving a Cadillac. Then he remembers it when a suspension collapses at almost 300 mph. But, jokes aside, for a team that started from scratch the Americans are doing even better than expected. If they raced with two drivers it would be better. F1 Canada, the report cards of those who failed 3. Liberty Media. “Too much focus on criticism“, “At the beginning we let everyone talk“, “F1 has no problems“. Then, the next day (but the next day really) it turns out that F1 really has problems, it will soon say goodbye to 50-50 and will embrace V8s again at the latest in 2031, with goodbyes to investments for 2026, which as widely expected were channeled on a closed road. But saying “We made a mistake”, right? 2. Charles Leclerc. If Hamilton laughs, Leclerc cannot do the same. #16 is never on the ball, and only in one episode does he sulk in front of his teammate in the Sprint. For the rest he never looks at the plaque, and only with a Leclerc-style save does he avoid becoming familiar with the wall. The best news for Charles is that this weekend is over and now another one comes to love, to dream, to live: his Monaco. That with this Ferrari, I’ll tell you… 1. Oscar Piastri. McLaren does its part with a bad blunder at the start, complicating life for Norris and Piastri with the choice of intermediates at the start, without even differentiating between the two drivers. Ah yes, the papaya rules. In what is only the latest in a series of serious strategic errors, the theme of the drivers’ personalities emerges once again: when should they impose themselves if not on the choice of tires? If at least Norris saves what can be saved before the technical knockout, Icekid completes the picture by demolishing Albon’s car at the Casino hairpin. All after constantly taking them from Lando. We need to grow further.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-05-26 01:30:00