Russell looking to respond in Canada and bring an end to Antonelli's winning run

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]Russell[/a], the pre-season bookmakers' favourite, won the opener in Australia but the Briton is now 20 points behind the 19-year-old Italian and ‌needing to show who he is and what he can do.[/p][p]He could do with better luck, but a commanding performance in ‌Montreal would put the doubters back in their box. Anything less and the chatter will ‌only grow louder.[/p][p][b]"The George from last year, I think he’s gone missing a little bit," [/b]compatriot and 1996 ‌champion Damon Hill said after Russell finished fourth - for the second race in a row - ‌in Miami.[/p][p]The Canadian Grand Prix is for the first time a sprint weekend, the third of the season, which gives Russell even more of a chance to close the gap at a track where he has bagged some big ‌points in the past.[/p][embed guid="e88e67d5-aca1-4010-a00f-55cb5e4ada7c" url="https://x.com/F1/status/2056754248701149242" social-type="twitter" /][h2]Won from pole position with fastest lap[/h2][p]Last year ⁠the 28-year-old won from pole position with fastest ‌lap while then-rookie [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Antonelli[/a], now the favourite for the title in the betting odds, stood on the podium ​for the first time in his F1 career.[/p][p]The year before, Russell also started on pole but ended up third.[/p][p]Mercedes, yet to be beaten this season, are bringing their first upgrade ​package to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after rivals McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull did so in Miami and moved closer in performance.[/p][p]Weather is always a factor in Canada, and temperatures could be ⁠slightly cooler than in the past ​due to the race taking up an earlier slot on the calendar -- now round five instead of round 10.[/p][p]The track should still be more to Russell's liking than Miami but if Antonelli can make it four wins in a row, unheard of territory for any Italian since Alberto Ascari won six in ‌a row in 1952, then the alarm bells will really be ringing.[/p][p][b]"George for sure is going to be super strong in Canada, he’s always been very strong there, so he’s for sure going to be back at the top," [/b]said Antonelli.[/p][p]"But I think I feel much more comfortable in the car, much more in control as well. And I think we’re just going to keep trying our best. I’m going to try to maximise every time I go on track."[/p][embed guid="c565ab63-f045-42bd-9299-4feecf99d0e0" url="https://x.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/2057024101697376426" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a], invigorated after racing in the Nuerburgring 24 Hours at the weekend, is a three-time winner in Canada for Red Bull while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Lewis Hamilton[/a] and Ferrari great Michael Schumacher jointly hold the record of seven.[/p][p]McLaren's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Lando Norris[/a] ‌won the Miami sprint in a one-two with teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/piastri-oscar/MqKAIeUf/"]Oscar Piastri[/a] and they will be aiming ​for more of the same, with upgrades to come.[/p][p]They will also be determined not to ‌repeat last year's collision while battling for fourth place.[/p][p]Local organisers are expecting a record crowd, with increased capacity and more Canadians buying tickets while demand from the United States and elsewhere has held steady.[/p][p]Aston Martin's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stroll-lance/I3p9zz4s/"]Lance Stroll[/a] is the only Canadian in the race but can offer little to the crowd with the team lagging in last place and struggling with ⁠an uncompetitive Honda engine.[/p][p]Montreal also hosts Formula Two ⁠for the first time after rounds in ‌Bahrain and Saudi Arabia had to be cancelled due to the Iran war.[/p]