George Russell wins Canadian GP after dramatic McLaren collision in final laps

George Russell delivered Mercedes’ first victory of the Formula 1 season, holding off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and rookie sensation Kimi Antonelli to seal a memorable triumph at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The win marked a major turning point for Russell and the Silver Arrows, who had struggled for top-step finishes since the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November 2024.

Late Collision Shakes up title battle

While Russell cruised to the chequered flag behind a late safety car, the bigger story of the day centered around the collision between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris — a high-stakes clash that sent shockwaves through the paddock and significantly impacted the championship picture.

With just three laps remaining, Norris made an aggressive move to overtake Piastri, striking the rear of his teammate’s car and forcing himself out of the race. The incident not only ended Norris’ afternoon but also gifted Piastri a valuable fourth-place finish and extended his lead in the drivers’ standings to 22 points.

Visibly frustrated, Norris took full responsibility for the accident via team radio:

"I'm sorry. All my bad. All my fault. Stupid from me."

Later speaking to Sky Sports, the British driver added:

"This wasn't even like a 'that's racing', it was just silly from my part. Glad I didn’t ruin his [Piastri’s] race. In the end, apologies to the team."

Race Recap: From Pole to Victory

Starting from pole, Russell got off to a clean launch and maintained composure throughout a race filled with strategy shifts, tyre management, and late chaos. Verstappen remained a looming threat for most of the afternoon but couldn’t close the gap in time as the safety car curtailed any final-lap heroics.

"Well done team. That made up for last year," said Russell, who also started on pole in 2024 but finished third.
"It's amazing to be back on the top step. I felt last year was a victory lost and probably got the victory today due to the incredible pole lap yesterday."

Rising Star: Antonelli Shines on the Podium

Mercedes’ rookie Kimi Antonelli, just 18 years old, secured his maiden Formula 1 podium, finishing third and becoming the third-youngest driver in F1 history to reach the rostrum.

"I had a good start, managed to jump into P3 and just stayed up there at the front," Antonelli said.
"The last stint I pushed a bit too hard behind Max and I killed a bit the front-left tyre, and struggled a bit at the end, but really happy to bring the podium home."

His remarkable composure and racecraft drew praise from across the paddock, with many tipping him as a future world champion.

Full Race Results – Canadian Grand Prix 2025

George Russell (Mercedes)

Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)

Esteban Ocon (Haas)

Carlos Sainz (Williams)

The Canadian Grand Prix wasn’t short on tactical intrigue. Norris initially led the race after staying out longer on hard tyres, only pitting on lap 29 and emerging behind Piastri. That decision set the stage for the dramatic late-race incident.

Elsewhere, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc questioned his pit strategy after coming in earlier than expected, despite reporting satisfactory tyre condition.

“Why are we stopping? Tyres are still good,” Leclerc asked over team radio.

Lewis Hamilton struggled with car performance and voiced his concerns on radio as he trailed behind his teammate:

"I'm nowhere in the race, mate, I don't know what's happened."

Meanwhile, Williams' Alex Albon and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto had contrasting fortunes. Albon had an early off-track moment, and Colapinto initially surged but faded after being overtaken by Hulkenberg.

Championship Implications

With this result, Piastri solidifies his position at the top of the drivers' standings, now leading by 22 points. Meanwhile, Russell climbs the table with a much-needed win for Mercedes, who now look to build momentum heading into the European leg of the season.

Verstappen, who missed out on what would have been a record fourth consecutive win at the Canadian Grand Prix, remains firmly in the title hunt but admitted post-race that “we just didn’t have enough pace today.”

Sportsligue Analysis: Takeaways from Montreal

• Russell's comeback win puts Mercedes back in the mix, both in the constructors’ and drivers’ battles.
• Team tension at McLaren may intensify as Norris' error costs valuable points.
• Antonelli’s breakout confirms Mercedes' investment in youth is already paying dividends.
• Ferrari and Red Bull remain consistent but need more to challenge for wins.
• Midfield shake-up continues, with strong performances from Haas and Sauber.

What’s Next?

F1 heads to the Red Bull Ring in Austria for the next race on the calendar. With just one-third of the season completed, the title race remains wide open — and full of drama.

SportsLigue