Mercedes Pair Lead Competitive Field at Canadian Grand Prix

At last year’s Canadian Grand Prix, then-18-year-old Kimi Antonelli took third place to become Formula 1’s third-youngest podium finisher in history.  

How quickly things change in F1. 

Now, the 19-year-old Italian driver arrives in Montreal as the Drivers’ Championship leader, with a 20-point lead over his veteran teammate George Russell, and as a +175 favourite to win Sunday’s race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.  

With Mercedes entering the 2026 season as favourites amid new regulations, it was expected Russell would finally have his moment. A dominant showing at the season’s opener, in Melbourne, did little to sway that line of thinking. But, since then, it’s been a championship dominated by his younger, less experienced teammate.  

Antonelli has taken pole position and gone on to win in the subsequent three races, taking early control of a Mercedes-centric title race. Russell is a close +225 second favourite to win on Sunday, but pressure is mounting on the preseason favourite due to both Antonelli’s extraordinary success and improving rivals behind him. 

Reigning Drivers' Champion, Lando Norris, is close behind Russell at +400, while four-time champion and long-standing rival Max Verstappen is at +800.  Add in the third member of last year's title fight, McLaren's Oscar Piastri, at +1000, and you have five genuine contenders for the race win. 

Pressure is ramping up on the Mercedes duo, but as Antonelli has proven in three consecutive races, it’s unlikely to faze him. Now, the attention turns to Russell as he attempts to respond. 

Click here to see all Canadian Grand Prix odds at BET99. 

Odds as of May 20, 2026.