Canadian Grand Prix 2025 Results

The 2025 Canadian Grand Prix delivered a classic Formula 1 thriller—a few surprises, overtakes, and heart-stopping drama. While Ferrari fans hoped for a podium finish, it was Mercedes’ George Russell who lit up Montreal, securing a well-deserved victory at Gilles Villeneuve Circuit.

George Russell’s Masterclass

George Russell started the weekend in style, clinching pole position in Saturday’s qualifying. He kept the momentum going into race day, setting the fastest lap and managing his tires brilliantly.

Most drivers at the Canadian Grand Prix 2025 chose a two-stop strategy, swapping between the hard and medium compound tires to keep their cars competitive throughout the race. While many teams followed similar plans, George Russell and Mercedes showed a masterclass in tire management—something that set them apart from the rest of the field.

Even as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen closed in on Russell during the final laps, the Mercedes driver held firm. Russell’s advantage wasn’t just about speed; it was about how carefully he and his team managed their tires.

Despite Red Bull’s Max Verstappen breathing down his neck, Russell held firm—especially in the final laps.

This marks Russell’s fourth career win, which rocketed him closer to the title contention.

Mercedes’ Double Delight

Russell wasn’t the only Mercedes driver celebrating. Behind Russell, history was made: 18-year-old Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli snatched third place, becoming F1’s third-youngest podium finisher ever (18y 9m 21d). He now joins an elite club as the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 history, behind only Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll. Antonelli’s confident drive, which included a brilliant overtake of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, showcases his star potential.

Max Verstappen’s Tireless Chase and the Penalty Drama

Max Verstappen gave everything he had at the Canadian Grand Prix 2025, even though he lost a bit of ground at the start. Some speculated that his cautious approach was due to anticipating bold moves from George Russell—and that’s exactly what we saw as the race unfolded.

A key moment came late in the race when Russell made a hard brake behind the safety car—an action that looked to some like an attempt to provoke Verstappen into making a mistake. Had Verstappen taken the bait and overtaken Russell under safety car conditions, he might have earned a penalty. However, Russell’s tactics didn’t quite work as intended, and no penalties were handed out for this maneuver.

Meanwhile, the spotlight was also on Verstappen’s super license. With 11 penalty points already accumulated over the last 12 months, he was dangerously close to a race ban. If a driver reaches 12 penalty points within a rolling one-year period, they must sit out the next event. Fortunately for Verstappen, he avoided any new penalties in Canada.

Red Bull tried to lodge a post-race protest against George Russell, citing an alleged incident. However, the protest was declined, and Verstappen’s penalty point tally remained at 11.

As the race neared its end, Verstappen found better pace and managed his tires more effectively, but despite his best efforts, he couldn’t find a way past Russell. Verstappen finished second.

McLaren’s Misstep

McLaren’s weekend took a dramatic turn when teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collided. Norris braked late, hit Piastri, and was forced to retire—costing him valuable points in the championship battle.

Piastri, ever the cool-headed racer, finished fourth. This incident highlights the fine line between aggression and risk in F1, and Norris quickly took responsibility, apologizing to his teammate.

Ferrari’s Frustration

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (5th) and Lewis Hamilton (6th) were in the hunt for the podium but struggled on race day. Leclerc’s tire strategy didn’t pay off, while Hamilton’s race was hampered by an unlucky encounter with a groundhog, damaging his car and costing him downforce. Without Norris’s retirement, Hamilton would have finished even lower.

Leclerc’s tire strategy (Hard-Hard-Medium) backfired. For Ferrari, Montreal was a weekend of ‘what ifs.’

Midfield Highlights

• Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso continued his points streak, finishing seventh. Lance Stroll, racing at home, had a tough day and finished 17th after a penalty.
• Kick Sauber: Nico Hülkenberg impressed again, finishing eighth and bringing home valuable points.
• Haas: Esteban Ocon defied expectations to finish ninth and score points.
• Williams: Carlos Sainz took the final point in the tenth, while Alex Albon retired.
• Alpine and Racing Bulls: Both teams left Canada without points, with Alpine’s future uncertain following a management shake-up.

Championship Standings

Oscar Piastri now leads the F1 drivers’ championship, 21 points ahead of Lando Norris and 43 points clear of Max Verstappen. With George Russell just 19 points behind Verstappen, the battle is heating up. In the constructors’ championship, Mercedes leapfrogged Ferrari into second, but McLaren’s lead is a massive 175 points.

What’s Next?

The Formula 1 follows its schedule and heads to Austria for the Red Bull Ring—Verstappen’s home turf. Can he close the gap, or will Russell and McLaren keep the pressure on? Stay tuned for more twists in this thrilling 2025 Formula 1 season.