Canadian GP Shake-Up with 70-Place Penalty as FIA confirms Russell and Norris p… read more
The FIA has officially finalized the starting grid for the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, confirming a whirlwind of penalties and reshuffling after a dramatic qualifying session and a series of late decisions by the stewards. The biggest story? A staggering 70-place cumulative grid penalty has rocked the field, reshaping the outlook for Sunday’s race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
Tensions are still high from the previous race in Barcelona, where a controversial incident between Max Verstappen and George Russell sparked heated debate. Verstappen collided with Russell’s Mercedes in frustration, and fate appears to have brought them back together quickly—this time on the front row. Russell will start from pole position for Mercedes, with Verstappen lining up right alongside him in second for Red Bull. The duo will no doubt reignite their rivalry, with fans expecting fireworks from the very start.
Just behind them sits championship leader Oscar Piastri in third. The McLaren driver is in prime position to capitalize should Russell and Verstappen clash again. Lando Norris, Piastri’s teammate and closest title challenger, had a challenging qualifying session riddled with mistakes and will start further back in seventh.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli continues to impress and will start in fourth place, flanking his teammate Russell on the second row. The young Italian will likely be deployed in a support role to help Mercedes control the front of the race. On the other hand, Verstappen won’t have the same team support—his Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda has been hit with a severe penalty and will start all the way down in 20th after breaching red flag rules during practice, earning a 10-place grid drop.
Red Bull’s troubles didn’t end there. Their junior driver Isack Hadjar, representing Racing Bulls, was also slapped with a penalty—losing three spots on the grid after impeding Carlos Sainz during Q1. Hadjar, originally set to start ninth, now finds himself in 12th.
Further complicating matters, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson will both start the race from the pit lane. Their teams made unauthorized changes to the cars after qualifying, a breach of parc fermé regulations. These late alterations forced the FIA to update the official grid hours before lights out.
Here is the confirmed starting grid for the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix:
F1 Canadian Grand Prix – Starting Grid
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
6. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
7. Lando Norris (McLaren)
8. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
9. Alex Albon (Williams)
10. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
12. Isack Hadjar* (Racing Bulls)
13. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
14. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
15. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
17. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
18. Yuki Tsunoda* (Red Bull)
Pit Lane: Pierre Gasly**, Liam Lawson**
* Tsunoda penalized 10 places for a red flag violation in practice.
* Hadjar dropped 3 places for impeding in Q1.
** Gasly and Lawson start from pit lane due to late car modifications.
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Canadian Grand Prix Race Details – June 15, 2025
The Canadian Grand Prix takes place today, with the race scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM local time (EDT). Depending on your region, here’s when you can catch the action:
UK (BST): 7:00 PM
Central Europe (CEST): 8:00 PM
USA (CDT): 1:00 PM
USA (PDT): 11:00 AM
Mexico (CST): 12:00 PM
Australia (AEST): 4:00 AM (Monday)
India (IST): 11:30 PM
Japan (JST): 3:00 AM (Monday)
South Africa (SAST): 8:00 PM
Brazil (BRT): 3:00 PM
China/Singapore (CST/SGT): 2:00 AM (Monday)
Egypt/Turkey (EEST): 9:00 PM
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Where to Watch the Canadian Grand Prix Live
Depending on your country, there are several ways to watch the race live on television or streaming platforms. Here’s a list of major broadcasters:
United Kingdom: Sky Sports
United States: ESPN, ESPN Deportes
Canada: CTV, TSN, RDS, Noovo
Australia: Fox Sports, Kayo, Network Ten
France: Canal+
Germany: Sky Deutschland
Italy: Sky Italia
Brazil: Bandeirantes, Bandsports
Japan: Fuji TV, DAZN
China: CCTV, Tencent
Spain: DAZN F1, Telecinco
Mexico: Fox Sports Mexico
Middle East & Africa: beIN SPORTS, SuperSport
Latin America: ESPN
As the race gets underway, all eyes will be on the front row battle between Russell and Verstappen—and whether Piastri can seize the opportunity to extend his lead in the championship standings. With pen
alties, pit-lane starts, and unpredictable weather always a factor in Montreal, the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix promises high drama and thrilling action.
