George Russell overcame a late safety car to claim 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix win ahead of Max Verstappen and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli who secured his maiden Formula 1 podium.
The race held at the iconic Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal featured several strategic gambles and drama headlined by a late McLaren collision, ultimately culminating in Mercedes’ first win of the season.
Starting from pole position, George Russell made an impeccable getaway immediately fending off a challenge from Max Verstappen who slotted his Red Bull into second place.
The opening laps saw Russell controlling the pace keeping Verstappen within range but never allowing the Dutchman to mount a serious attack.
Behind them, Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli made a sensational start, leapfrogging McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to seize third place, setting the stage for a tense battle among the frontrunners.
Full Canadian Grand Prix 2025 Race Results
The race quickly settled into a rhythm defined by divergent tire strategies. While most of the leading teams opted for a two-stop approach seeking to maximize performance on the rapidly degrading Montreal tarmac, a few midfield runners gambled on a one-stop strategy, hoping to capitalize on potential Safety Car periods or late-race incidents.
Russell and Verstappen, both on the two-stop plan, traded fastest laps and responded to each other’s pit stops with precision. Russell’s first stop came just after Verstappen’s, allowing the Mercedes driver to maintain track position and a crucial buffer as the race unfolded.
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As the race entered its middle phase, Antonelli continued to impress in third. The young Italian defended charges from Piastri and Lando Norris, both eager to reclaim lost ground for McLaren.
Verstappen, meanwhile, attempted an undercut on Russell during the second round of pit stops, but Russell’s pace on fresh tyres was enough to keep the Red Bull at bay. By lap 43 Russell had built a comfortable margin, allowing him to delay his final stop and rejoin still in the lead.
However, the tension in the closing stages was palpable as the gaps among the top five narrowed. With Russell leading Verstappen, Antonelli found himself under relentless attack from Piastri who had been shadowed all race by his McLaren teammate Norris.
The McLaren duo, both in contention for the championship, were locked in a high-speed chess match, each seeking to maximize points while avoiding disaster.
The pressure finally boiled over with just four laps remaining after Norris misjudged his braking at the end of the pit straight and clipped the rear of Piastri’s car, sending himself into the wall and out of the race.
Piastri managed to continue but the incident brought out the Safety Car and neutralized the race to the finish.
While the drama unfolded at McLaren, the focus at the front remained on George Russell who expertly managed the Safety Car restart and cruised to the checkered flag as the undisputed 2025 F1 Canadian Grand Prix winner.
Verstappen despite his best efforts had to settle for second, just two-tenths behind Russell while Kimi Antonelli crossed the line in third, securing his maiden Formula 1 podium.
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc delivered a solid drive to finish fifth ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who battled through the race with minor damage sustained in the early laps.
Fernando Alonso achieved his best result of the season in seventh for Aston Martin while Nico Hulkenberg brought his Sauber home in eighth, a commendable result for the Swiss outfit.
Esteban Ocon scored points for Haas in ninth while Carlos Sainz rounded out the top ten for Williams.
