George Russell secured his first win of the season in a dramatic Canadian Grand Prix, leading home Max Verstappen and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, as McLaren’s title contenders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris sensationally clashed in the closing stages.
The Mercedes driver, who started from pole, held firm at the front throughout a tense, strategy-heavy two-stop race and was rewarded with a well-earned victory under the Safety Car following Norris’ race-ending crash. Verstappen finished second, while 18-year-old Antonelli held his nerve to claim his maiden Formula 1 podium.
The race saw its decisive drama unfold in the final 15 laps. While Russell and Verstappen consolidated their positions at the front, the battle for third intensified as Antonelli, Piastri and Norris jostled for the final podium spot. The McLaren pair – both in championship contention – came to blows in a desperate duel.
Norris had passed Piastri into the Turn 10 hairpin, only for the Australian to fight back into the final chicane. With DRS aiding his cause, Norris made one final attempt on the pit straight but misjudged the gap. Contact with the rear of Piastri’s car sent the Briton crashing into the wall, bringing out the Safety Car and ending his race.
The crash left Russell, Verstappen and Antonelli to cruise to the flag under yellow flags.
Earlier, Russell had got away cleanly from pole with Verstappen in tow. Behind them, Antonelli surged past Piastri into Turn 3 to take third. Over the opening laps, Verstappen struggled with tyre wear and pitted on lap 12, prompting Mercedes to react a lap later to cover the undercut. Russell emerged still ahead, with Antonelli stopping soon after and rejoining behind the Red Bull.
The mix of strategies brought Hard-tyre starters Norris and Charles Leclerc to the front after early stops by their rivals. Mercedes and Red Bull methodically reeled them in, with Russell overtaking Leclerc on lap 26 before Verstappen did likewise a few laps later.
Norris ran long before switching to Mediums on lap 30, but Russell and Verstappen regained their positions at the front. At half distance, Russell led by four seconds, with Verstappen two clear of Antonelli, and Piastri close behind. Norris, now fifth, began to chase.
Verstappen stopped again on lap 38 for fresh Hard tyres, triggering a response from Mercedes. Antonelli followed a lap later and rejoined just behind the Dutchman. Russell made his final stop on lap 43, rejoining with a comfortable gap over Verstappen.
Piastri came in on lap 46, and when Norris and Leclerc eventually made their second stops, the running order settled: Russell, Verstappen, Antonelli, Piastri and Norris with just under 20 laps remaining.
Verstappen looked briefly to threaten Russell, but the Briton responded coolly. The real fireworks came from McLaren. Norris lunged down the inside of Piastri at Turn 10 on lap 67 and appeared to complete the move. But Piastri countered along the straight. Norris held back into the final chicane to launch a DRS-assisted move on the main straight but collided with his team-mate and crashed heavily.
The Safety Car was deployed, the field filtered through the pit lane, and with only three laps left, the race concluded under caution.
Russell’s victory marks his first since the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November 2024 and his fifth podium of the season. It was also a sweet redemption after falling short from pole in Montreal a year ago.
“It feels a bit of a redemption compared to last year because I was really disappointed with my performance,” said Russell. “It was my mistakes that let the team down, but I’m in a different place now and I feel like I’m driving better than ever.”
Russell now sits fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, 62 points behind leader Piastri and 19 off Verstappen. Despite Mercedes’ success in Montreal, Russell was cautious about expectations.
“I don’t know how both Max and I are so close to those two in the championship because McLaren clearly have the dominant car,” he said. “I cannot imagine they will keep throwing away points in the manner that they are doing, but of course, we hope that continues.”
The win also strengthens Russell’s position within Mercedes as contract talks loom. Team principal Toto Wolff said: “The ambience in the team is great… We’ve agreed on some kind of timeline… but we’re going to get there.”
For Mercedes, it was a landmark day beyond the win. Antonelli, just 18 years and 294 days old, became the third-youngest podium finisher in Formula 1 history.
“It was so stressful but super happy,” said the Italian. “I pushed a bit too hard behind Max and killed the front left, but I’m really happy to bring the podium home.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fifth ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Fernando Alonso took seventh, followed by Nico Hülkenberg, Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz, who both managed the race with just one stop.
Red Bull’s post-race protest against Russell’s Safety Car driving was dismissed by the stewards.
Formula 1 returns later this month with the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring from 27–29 June – a high-speed circuit that will pose a fresh challenge for Mercedes.
“It’s going to be hot, on old tarmac, with more high-speed corners,” Russell noted. “We’re not going to say Mercedes is back just yet – we know where we need to improve.”
2025 FIA Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix – Race
1 George Russell Mercedes 70 –
2 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 70 +0.228
3 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 70 +1.014
4 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 70 +2.109
5 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 70 +3.442
6 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 70 +10.713
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 70 +10.972
8 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 70 +15.364
9 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 69 – 1 lap
10 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 69 – 1 lap
11 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 69 – 1 lap
12 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 69 – 1 lap
13 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Renault 69 – 1 lap
14 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 69 – 1 lap
15 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 69 – 1 lap
16 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 69 – 1 lap
17 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 69 – 1 lap
18 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 66 – DNF
Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 53 – DNF
Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 46 – DNF