MOTOR RACING: Antonelli takes fourth win in a row after Russell retires in Canada

MONTREAL — Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli claimed his fourth consecutive win on Sunday after a power unit failure forced Mercedes teammate and title rival George Russell to retire from the Canadian Grand Prix before the halfway mark.

Russell, who started from pole position, had engaged in a close and exciting battle with Antonelli as the two Mercedes drivers exchanged the lead in the opening stages at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. However, his race came to an abrupt end on Lap 30 of 68 when he pulled off to the side of the track due to the mechanical issue.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton finished in second place, 10.7 seconds behind the 19-year-old Italian driver, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured third place to complete the podium and earn his first top-three finish of the season.

With the victory, Antonelli extended his championship lead over Russell from 18 to 43 points after five Grands Prix. All five races and three Saturday sprint events this season have been won by Mercedes drivers, underscoring the team’s early dominance. -Writing by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters