Former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya predicts that Kimi Antonelli could gain a psychological edge over Mercedes teammate George Russell by winning the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix. Antonelli recently extended his drivers' championship lead to 20 points with a third consecutive victory at the Miami Grand Prix. Russell, who won in Canada last year, aims to halt his teammate's momentum.
Juan Pablo Montoya stated that a victory for Antonelli at the Canadian GP, a track where Russell triumphed in 2025, would give the Italian a mental advantage. “Kimi knows that George is really strong there, and in his mind, he knows he needs to beat [him]. If he can beat George there, he has him mentally covered and that's a big thing,” Montoya said during an F1 post-race show ahead of the Canadian event. He also highlighted uncertainties with recent car upgrades affecting performance at Miami, where some teams struggled despite faster lap times due to changed car behavior. Antonelli impressed from the start of the 2026 season, securing podiums in the opening races, including his Miami win at the Miami International Autodrome. Russell, a preseason favorite at age 28, faced difficulties there. After the race, Russell praised Antonelli to Sky Sports F1, saying, “He [Antonelli] is a fantastic driver and has been exceptionally quick since day one. He's won all of the championships as a youngster.” He added confidence in his own abilities despite the early setback, noting, “I've still got confidence in myself and have also been there. I've not forgotten how to drive. It's just a little bit of a tricky run but we are four races down, a long way to go and I think we will reassess things over the next few weeks.” As the season progresses into its fifth round, Russell seeks to leverage his past Canada success to challenge Antonelli's lead.
