George Russell roared to his first victory of the 2025 season at the Canadian Grand Prix, fending off Max Verstappen in a masterclass of strategy and pace at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Starting from pole, the Mercedes driver held his nerve at the lights, keeping Verstappen’s Red Bull at bay and dictating the race with a commanding performance. His measured drive ensured the lead was never seriously threatened, delivering to Mercedes their first win of the year in style.
In a two-stop race, Russell’s pit strategy was flawless. He countered Verstappen’s stops with precision, building a cushion in the second stint to delay his final pitstop until lap 43 of 70. This allowed him to keep the Dutchman at arm’s length, crossing the line with a comfortable gap. Verstappen settled for second, unable to close the deficit despite a spirited chase.
Full results to follow...
Mercedes Shines, McLaren Stumbles
Behind the leaders, the fight for the final podium spot was electric. Mercedes’ rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered his best F1 performance yet, briefly overtaking Verstappen during the pitstop cycles and securing third for his maiden podium.
The Italian, who passed McLaren’s Oscar Piastri on lap 1, fended off the championship leader late in the race to hand Mercedes a triumphant 1-3 finish.
“It’s a dream come true,” Antonelli beamed post-race.
McLaren, usually dominant in tyre management, struggled with pace and wear. Piastri, on fresher hard tyres, couldn’t find a way past Antonelli, while teammate Lando Norris mounted a stunning recovery from seventh.
Starting on hards and extending his first stint, Norris showcased solid pace, pressuring Piastri by lap 46. A bold move at the hairpin saw him briefly take fourth, but disaster struck on the main straight.
Attempting a pass on Piastri, Norris misjudged a closing gap on the left, clipped his teammate, and smashed into the pitwall, ending his race with terminal suspension damage.
“It’s all on me, my bad” Norris admitted over team radio, a costly error widening Piastri’s championship lead to 22 points.
Ferrari Left Trailing, Midfield Battles Heat Up
Ferrari endured a frustrating day. Charles Leclerc, livid after the team ditched a promising one-stop strategy, settled for fifth, while Lewis Hamilton’s race unraveled after hitting a groundhog, costing downforce and leaving him sixth.
The midfield, however, was a thrilling spectacle. Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg battled fiercely to claim seventh and eighth, continuing their points-scoring streak.
Esteban Ocon (Haas) and Carlos Sainz (Williams), who fought back from 16th, nabbed the final points in ninth and tenth.
Williams’ Alex Albon retired on lap 48 with a Mercedes power unit failure, and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson parked his car to preserve engine mileage.
Despite the chaos created by McLaren, Russell’s victory stole the headlines, his strategic brilliance and raw speed silencing any doubts about his Mercedes future.
Championship Shake-Up
As the F1 circus packs up for the Austrian Grand Prix in two weeks, Piastri’s consistent podium extends his championship lead over Norris by 12 points.
Russell’s win vaults him closer to the top, while Mercedes’ 1-3 signals a resurgence. With Verstappen still a formidable force to be reckoned with, the 2025 season is shaping up to be a thriller.
But today, Montreal belonged to Russell, whose victory lap was a statement: he’s here to stay.
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