George Russell delivered a masterful drive at the Canadian Grand Prix securing his first victory of the season after holding off Max Verstappen in a tense battle. Russell started on pole for the second consecutive year in Montreal and controlled the race from the front. The four time reigning champion struggled with tyre degradation early on but mounted a final stint charge keeping Russell under pressure. The race ended under yellow flag conditions after a dramatic McLaren collision ensuring Russell’s victory.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris engaged in a wheel to wheel battle in the closing laps but a misjudged move from Norris resulted in a costly collision. Norris attempted to pass Piastri for fourth place but misjudged the gap clipping the back of his team mate’s car. The impact send Norris into the wall forcing him to retire. He immediately took full responsibility calling his move “stupid”. Piastri finished fourth extending his lead over Norris to 22 points while McLaren failed to reach the podium for the first time this season.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured his first ever Formula One (F1) podium finishing third behind Russell and Verstappen. Antonelli overtook Piastri on lap 1 holding third place for most of the race. Piastri closed in during the final laps but Antonelli held firm showcasing his composure. At 18 years old, Antonelli became the third youngest podium finisher in F1 history behind Verstappen and Lance Stroll. Antonelli described the moment as “better than I imagined,” saying he had goosebumps walking onto the podium.
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 198 points |
McLaren – 374 points |
Lando Norris (McLaren) – 176 points |
Mercedes – 199 points |
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 155 points |
Ferrari – 183 points |
George Russell (Mercedes) – 136 points |
Red Bull – 162 points |
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 104 points |
Williams – 55 points |
Russell delivered a masterclass in race control securing Mercedes’ first victory of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix. Russell started on pole and maintained his lead throughout the race, expertly managing tyre wear along with fuel consumption. Mercedes executed a perfect two stop strategy covering Verstappen’s undercut attempts and ensuring Russell had fresh tyres for the final stint. A late safety car period neutralised Verstappen’s charge allowing Russell to cross the line unchallenged.
Verstappen pushed hard in the closing laps but ultimately couldn’t find a way past Russell. Verstappen suffered high degradation in the first two stints forcing Red Bull to pit earlier than planned. On fresh tyres, Verstappen closed the gap to Russell but lacked the straight line speed to mount a serious attack. After the race, Red Bull lodged a protest against Russell’s safety car driving but the FIA dismissed it confirming Russell’s victory.
Ferrari endured a challenging race with Charles Leclerc finishing fifth and Lewis Hamilton battling tyre degradation. The Monegasque driver opted for a one stop strategy but struggled with race pace compared to Mercedes and Red Bull. Hamilton suffered excessive wear on his second stint forcing him to pit earlier than planned dropping him to sixth place. Despite, recent aero improvement, Ferrari still lacks race day consistency leaving them third in the Constructors’ standings.
Russell’s victory has given Mercedes a much needed morale boost marking their first win of the 2025 season. His flawless drive from pole and strategic pit stops ensured he held off Verstappen securing a lights to flag victory. Meanwhile, McLaren’s internal tensions escalated after Piastri Norris collided in the closing laps. Norris attempted an ambitious overtaking, misjudged the gap and clipped Piastri’s car forcing him to retire from the race. Team principal Andrea Stella acknowledge the incident was unacceptable but praised Norris for owning up to his mistake.
Red Bull opted for early pit stops allowing Verstappen to undercut rivals and stay in contention. On fresh tyre, Verstappen closed in on Russell but lacked the straight line speed to mount a serious attack. With McLaren showing vulnerability, Verstappen remains a serious threat in the championship fight.
Pirelli’s softest tyre compounds struggled with graining forcing team to adjust their strategies. Most teams opted for medium-hard-hard balancing durability and race pace. A late safety car neutralised Verstappen’s charge and ensuring Russell’s victory.
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