F1 Canadian Grand Prix: Russell Holds Off Verstappen for Victory; Norris Crashes Out
George Russell wins the 2025 Canadian GP, claiming Mercedes' first victory of the season. Rookie Antonelli takes P3 as a Norris-Piastri clash ends McLaren's podium hopes.
By Divyam Dubey
George Russell delivered Mercedes’ first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Canadian Grand Prix. Holding off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen over 70 laps, Russell’s performance marked a key breakthrough after recent struggles. The Montreal win followed a controversial Spanish Grand Prix, but this time, Mercedes ran a clean and controlled race. Kimi Antonelli made headlines with his maiden Formula 1 podium finish, placing third. The 18-year-old Mercedes junior showed strong race pace and composure under pressure. His result not only impressed fans but also marked his best performance in F1 so far. Antonelli’s success underlines his growing reputation as a future front-runner.
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After McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri collided, the race ended under a Safety Car. Norris attempted an aggressive overtake but retired on the spot. He was handed a five-second penalty, while Piastri recovered to finish fourth. The Australian driver extended his championship lead despite the late-race drama.\
Ferrari had another difficult weekend. Charles Leclerc finished fifth, far off the front-runners. Lewis Hamilton's race was affected after a collision with a groundhog early on, damaging his car. The seven-time champion described his Mercedes as “nowhere” and crossed the line in sixth, showing the team still has work to do.
| Pos | Driver | Team | Laps |
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 70 laps |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.228s |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +1.014s |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +2.109s |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +3.442s |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +10.713s |
| 7 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +10.972s |
| 8 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | +15.364s |
| 9 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1 lap |
| 10 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +1 lap |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +1 lap |
| 12 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | +1 lap |
| 13 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +1 lap |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | +1 lap |
| 15 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1 lap |
| 16 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +1 lap |
| 17 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1 lap |
| 18 | Lando Norris | McLaren | DNF |
| 19 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | DNF |
| 20 | Alex Albon | Williams | DNF |
Fernando Alonso secured seventh place for Aston Martin. Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, Haas’ Esteban Ocon, and Williams’ Carlos Sainz rounded out the points. Haas rookie Ollie Bearman just missed out in 11th. Yuki Tsunoda impressed with a climb from 18th to 12th in his Racing Bulls car.
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Lower down the grid, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly finished 13th and 15th, with Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber in 14th. Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar had a difficult race, while Lance Stroll finished 17th. Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Norris retired, closing a dramatic 2025 Canadian Grand Prix weekend.
