Russell, who is 20 points behind Antonelli after seeing the Italian teenager win the last three Grands Prix, beat Antonelli by just 0.068s as Mercedes' upgrades for Montreal put them further ahead of the field.
McLaren locked out the second row with Lando Norris recovering from a mistake in SQ3 to snatch third from team-mate Oscar Piastri, but the pair were over three tenths behind Russell.
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Lewis Hamilton topped SQ1 and was second in SQ2, only to be jumped by the McLarens when it mattered most but still qualified fifth, ahead of Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in sixth.
Hamilton revealed he did not test the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on the simulator and the move seems to have paid off as he beat Leclerc in a competitive session for the first time since the second round in China.
The Noah's Ark top eight is completed by Red Bull with Max Verstappen in seventh and Isack Hadjar in eighth.
Britain's Arvid Lindblad was ninth in Sprint Qualifying on his first Montreal outing, with Williams' Carlos Sainz in 10th.
Sainz's team-mate Alex Albon was unable to take part in the session after hitting a groundhog in practice earlier on Friday.
More to follow...
Sky Sports F1's Canadian GP schedule
Saturday May 23
2.40pm: F1 Academy Race 1
4pm: Canadian GP Sprint build-up
5pm: CANADIAN GP SPRINT
6.30pm: Ted's Sprint Notebook
7pm: F2 Sprint*
8.10pm: Canadian GP Qualifying build-up*
9pm: CANADIAN GP QUALIFYING*
11pm: F1 Academy Race 2*
11.45pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday May 24
3.40pm: F1 Academy Race 3
5pm: F2 Feature Race
7.30pm: Canadian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
9pm: THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX*
11am: Canadian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
12am: Ted's Notebook*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix and another Sprint weekend. Watch live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday's race at 9pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
