2026 Canadian GP Driver Ratings: Russell Leads as Leclerc Endures Career-Worst Weekend

George Russell may have missed out on victory at the 2026 Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix, but his overall performance throughout the Montreal weekend earned the highest driver rating. According to RacingNews365’s post-race assessment, the Mercedes driver received a 9.5 out of 10 after dominating almost every competitive session before a power unit failure ended his race while leading.

The rating reflected Russell’s exceptional pace from Sprint Qualifying to Sunday’s grand prix. He secured Sprint pole position, won the Sprint Race, claimed grand prix pole, and successfully overtook team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli for the lead during the main race. Minor mistakes, including several lock-ups and excursions beyond track limits, prevented him from receiving a perfect score, as they repeatedly allowed Antonelli to remain within striking distance.

Hamilton Delivers His Strongest Ferrari Weekend

One of the most significant storylines from Montreal came from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion earned a rating of 9 after producing what many observers considered his strongest performance since joining Ferrari. Throughout the weekend, Hamilton comfortably outperformed team-mate Charles Leclerc in both qualifying and race conditions.

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The highlight came during the closing stages of the grand prix when Hamilton executed a decisive overtaking move on Max Verstappen to secure second place. RacingNews365 noted that Hamilton’s Montreal performance could represent an important turning point for Ferrari as the team seeks to build momentum during the middle phase of the season.

Another standout performer was Franco Colapinto, who also received a rating of 9. The Argentine driver continued his impressive rise by delivering one of the strongest weekends of his Formula 1 career, consistently outperforming his team-mate and reinforcing his reputation as one of the most promising young talents on the grid.

Antonelli Wins Again, But Still Has Areas to Improve

Despite securing a fourth consecutive grand prix victory and extending his championship lead to 43 points, Antonelli received a rating of 8. The assessment highlighted that race results alone do not always tell the full story of a driver's performance across an entire weekend.

According to RacingNews365, the Italian occasionally allowed his aggression to exceed the ideal limit while battling Russell. During the Sprint, he ran across the grass at both Turn 1 and Turn 8 while trying to maintain pressure. In the grand prix, a major lock-up at the final chicane nearly resulted in contact that could have eliminated both Mercedes cars from contention.

Nevertheless, Antonelli’s raw speed remained highly impressive. He qualified within one tenth of Russell in both qualifying sessions and maintained relentless pressure throughout the race before ultimately inheriting victory following Russell’s retirement.

Leclerc Admits to a Nightmare Weekend

While Russell topped the ratings, Leclerc found himself among the lowest-rated drivers of the weekend. The Monegasque was awarded only a 5 after what he openly described as the most difficult weekend of his Formula 1 career.

Leclerc struggled to understand the behaviour of the SF-26 and its interaction with the tyres throughout the event. He repeatedly complained about having virtually no feeling from the tyres from the opening laps of practice until the chequered flag. Even after salvaging fourth place, he admitted the result was largely a consequence of circumstances rather than outright pace.

"It has been a nightmare weekend for me, probably the most difficult weekend of my Formula 1 career," Leclerc said after the race, as quoted by RacingNews365.

The assessment was reinforced by Hamilton’s strong performance in identical machinery. The significant difference between Ferrari’s two drivers became one of the most fascinating technical stories of the weekend, demonstrating how track characteristics and tyre behaviour can affect drivers in dramatically different ways.

McLaren Misses a Major Opportunity

The ratings also reflected a disappointing weekend for McLaren. Lando Norris received an 8, while Oscar Piastri was rated 6. The team's controversial decision to start the grand prix on intermediate tyres ultimately compromised both drivers' races.

Norris briefly led the race before retiring with what is believed to have been a gearbox issue, while Piastri lost significant time through an early strategy change and later received a penalty following contact with Alex Albon. As a result, McLaren failed to capitalise on a weekend where several direct rivals encountered difficulties.

What Do These Ratings Mean for the Championship Fight?

Although driver ratings do not influence the official standings, the Montreal evaluations offer a revealing snapshot of the competitive landscape. Mercedes appeared to possess the strongest overall package, Ferrari showed encouraging signs through Hamilton’s resurgence, and McLaren failed to maximise its strategic opportunities.

For Antonelli, a fourth consecutive victory further strengthens his status as the leading championship contender. However, receiving a lower rating than Russell despite winning highlights how competitive the intra-team battle remains. If Mercedes can maintain its performance advantage while improving reliability, the championship fight between Antonelli and Russell could develop into one of the defining rivalries of Formula 1’s new regulatory era.