Russell’s former boss Claire Williams says the British driver has the ‘maturity’ needed to triumph.

Verstappen is under contract with Red Bull and has also been linked with McLaren.

Hamilton’s first Ferrari win in Barcelona closed the gap to 41 points behind Mercedes’ championship leader Kimi Antonelli.

Championship leader Kimi Antonelli is a late retirement as British driver snaps long winless streak.

The seven-time world champion was just 0.064 seconds off clinching his first pole position since Hungary in July 2023.

The Silver Arrows have won every race this season and Russell ensured they were back on top after Lando Norris topped Friday practice for McLaren.

Russell failed to score for the second race in succession.

Antonelli, 19 years and nine months, delivered an emphatic performance.

George Russell withdrew from the race on Sunday.

The 41-year-old dropped behind his old foe on lap nine but they duelled again for the podium places in the closing laps of the race.

Russell will line up at the front of the grid for the third time in a row in Montreal.

But Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told the Italian to “stop the radio moaning”.

Russell will share the front of the grid with Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, with McLaren occupying the second row.

Russell was the pre-season championship favourite but fellow Mercedes driver Antonelli has won three straight races.

The Italian clinched a third successive victory at the Miami Grand Prix.

Sunday’s race was moved forward by three hours to 1300 local time as F1 bosses fought to beat the forecast thunderstorms later in the afternoon.

Kimi Antonelli has won the last two races to lead the standings by nine points.

Kimi Antonelli won his second successive race at Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, with Mercedes team-mate Russell in fourth.

Antonelli took advantage of a safety car period following British driver Ollie Bearman’s 140mph crash in Suzuka to land a free pit-stop.

Verstappen was eliminated in Q2 in Japan and out-qualified by his Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar.

The Australian edged out Kimi Antonelli by 0.092 seconds in Suzuka with George Russell third.

George Russell took second on the grid as Mercedes secured a second straight front-row lockout.

Hamilton had to settle for third as Russell – a winner in Australia six days ago – took the chequered flag 0.6 seconds clear of Charles Leclerlc.

Russell is leading the drivers’ standings for the first time in his career.

Russell traded the lead with Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc five times during a frenetic start.

The British driver, 28, arrived for the new campaign in Melbourne as the bookmakers’ favourite.

The British driver set a new record around the streets of Monte Carlo to beat local hero Charles Leclerc to pole by 0.109 seconds.

The pair were involved in a spat at last weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s Mercedes career will come to an end on Sunday.

Hamilton endured a torrid weekend in his penultimate race for the Silver Arrows.

Russell took the third win of his career under the Las Vegas lights.

Championship leader Max Verstappen will start sixth on the grid in Baku.

Hamilton finished 0.093 seconds ahead of teammate George Russell in the last tune-up before qualifying in Italy.

Mercedes cling on to second place in the constructors’ championship.

Verstappen was imperious around the high-speed corner circuit at Suzuka.