NEW DELHI: Mercedes’ George Russell emerged victorious in a dramatic and eventful Canadian Grand Prix weekend, as a clash between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris handed the Silver Arrows a golden opportunity. The 2025 edition of the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve race brought high-speed strategy, intra-team tension, and historic milestones — not least of which was 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli’s first-ever Formula 1 podium.
Mercedes Makes It Count: Russell Returns to Top Step, Antonelli Shines
After a rocky European triple-header, Mercedes responded in emphatic fashion. George Russell converted his pole position — secured with what he described as “one of the most exhilarating laps” of his life — into his first win of the season. The Briton fended off a late push from Max Verstappen before the race finished under Safety Car conditions.
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Behind him, rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli claimed third place after a stellar weekend. The Italian teenager held his nerve against Oscar Piastri and managed tyres expertly to clinch a maiden F1 podium — becoming the third-youngest driver in history to do so.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished second and lodged a protest against Russell for alleged erratic driving behind the Safety Car, but stewards quickly dismissed the challenge, confirming Russell’s win and Mercedes’ double-podium.
McLaren Implodes: Norris Takes Blame in Teammate Clash
The turning point of the race came late when McLaren’s title-contending duo collided. Fighting for fourth, Norris dived down the inside of Piastri at the hairpin and retook the position. But as he tried again on the following straight, he misjudged his braking and tagged the back of Piastri’s car.
While Piastri survived the impact to finish fourth, Norris was forced to retire with damage — a costly error that leaves him 22 points behind his teammate in the Drivers’ Championship. “I misjudged it. I was being stupid,” Norris admitted post-race. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella called it “not acceptable” but praised Norris for his accountability.
Ferrari Frustrated Again, Hulkenberg Steady for Sauber
Ferrari’s woes continued. Charles Leclerc suffered a crash in FP1 that disrupted his weekend. Despite recovering to finish fifth, his race was marred by strategy disagreements with the pit wall. Teammate Lewis Hamilton, who collided with a groundhog mid-race, battled car damage and braking issues to salvage points.
Meanwhile, Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg scored points for the second race in a row, pulling off a stunning double overtake on Lap 1 to eventually finish P8.
F1 Academy Delivers Action-Packed Triple Header
It wasn’t just the main race making headlines. F1 Academy delivered three thrilling races in Montreal — including a crash-strewn opener where McLaren juniors Chloe Chambers and Alisha Palmowski collided while fighting for the lead. Mercedes’ Doriane Pin capitalised to win Race 1.
Despite a disqualification in Race 1, Emma Felbermayr stormed back to win Race 2, and Chambers redeemed herself in Race 3, navigating two Safety Cars to claim her first win of the season.
The weekend reaffirmed F1 Academy’s growing profile and delivered more drama than many expected — with wheel-to-wheel battles, penalties, and strong fan support.
Celebrity Sightings and Canadian Flair
The weekend wasn’t short of glamour either. Actor Ben Stiller was spotted trackside, while Canadian Olympic gold medallist Summer McIntosh presented Russell with his Pirelli pole award. NFL stars Chase and Sydney Brown also made appearances, alongside Atlanta Falcons’ Matthew Bergeron.
Adding some Canadian spirit, Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman ditched their Miami football fiasco to try their hand at ice hockey — to mixed results.
What’s Next? Austria Awaits
With Russell back in the title hunt, Antonelli announcing himself on the global stage, and McLaren under pressure to manage its driver dynamics, all eyes now turn to the Red Bull Ring. Austria promises to be another key chapter in what’s becoming one of the most unpredictable F1 seasons in recent memory.
Top 10 Finishers – 2025 Canadian Grand Prix
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
