By Luke Pons
The 4.361 km Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve once again lived up to its reputation as a fan favourite. The Wall of Champions claimed no victims this year, but Turn 10 proved as tricky as ever. George Russell put Mercedes back in the spotlight with a great win from pole position, with young Antonelli sweetening the pot by becoming the third young driver to get onto an F1 podium.
George Russell started his weekend strongly by claiming pole position on Saturday with a rapid 1:10.899 lap. Mercedes’ confidence was visible from the outset, with rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli backing up the team’s resurgence by qualifying fourth. Between them on the grid sat Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, promising a tight fight for Sunday’s race.
As the lights went out on Sunday, Russell executed a flawless start. He fended off an early challenge from Verstappen and gradually built a small buffer that proved decisive. While Verstappen kept him honest with a smart two-stop strategy, Russell remained composed, nursing his tyres and managing traffic impeccably. When the chequered flag waved after 70 laps, Russell had earned his fourth career win and Mercedes’ first of the season. He capped off the performance by setting the fastest lap on lap 63.
The McLaren duo of Lando and Piastri heated up yet again, with Lando causing his own downfall. Running fourth and fifth, Piastri and Norris were fighting each other, both using DRS side by side, neither wanting to give up. Norris made a late-breaking lunge into Turn 10 on lap 67. Misjudging the move, he clipped Piastri’s car. Norris retired on the spot, while Piastri limped home to finish fourth under safety car conditions.
The collision not only cost McLaren a substantial haul of points but also sparked tensions within the team. Norris took full responsibility, saying in a post-race interview: “It was my fault—plain and simple. I owe Oscar and the team an apology.” Team principal Andrea Stella confirmed McLaren would review their racing protocols.
If the biggest disappointment came from McLaren, the greatest revelation was Mercedes’ 18-year-old rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli. In just his ninth Grand Prix, the Italian prodigy held his own under immense pressure, defending from veterans like Alonso and Leclerc, and managing his tyres like a seasoned pro. His third-place finish makes him the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 history and cements his status as a future star.
Charles Leclerc finished in fifth, followed closely by Lewis Hamilton in sixth. Both drivers were involved in midfield battles throughout the race but were unable to break into podium contention. While Leclerc managed to keep pressure on Piastri in the closing stages, tyre degradation and an underwhelming pit strategy meant neither Ferrari could mount a serious challenge. Leclerc noted post-race that the team “missed an opportunity in qualifying,” starting farther back than expected and struggling to recover.
Hamilton, still adjusting to his first season in red, called the car “balanced, but lacking bite,” especially over long stints. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur acknowledged the team’s shortcomings: “We’re consistently in the points, which is good, but we need more. The upgrades worked to some degree, but not enough to close the gap.”
With Austria and Silverstone coming up—two circuits that tend to reward high-speed efficiency—Ferrari will be eager to find the extra tenths they need to return to the podium fight and re-establish themselves.
The F1 circus now heads to Austria’s Red Bull Ring on 29 June. The big question: can McLaren bounce back, or will Mercedes’ momentum continue? Verstappen, who’s dominated Austria in recent years, will be eyeing redemption after being outfoxed in Canada. The 2025 Canadian Grand Prix had it all: a pole-to-win drive, team drama, and a young star’s breakthrough. As the championship battles tighten and team dynamics shift, Montréal may prove to be the season’s pivotal moment.
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