FIA confirms Canadian Disqualification as McLaren Due c… read more
The 2025 Canadian Grand Prix delivered a shock twist in the Formula 1 title race, with George Russell claiming a hard-fought victory for Mercedes while a late-race crash between McLaren team-mates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri stole the spotlight.
On a sunny afternoon in Montreal, Russell controlled the race from the front for most of the 70 laps, fending off a relentless challenge from Max Verstappen to secure his first win of the season. Despite the narrow margin of just 0.228 seconds, Russell’s drive appeared calm and composed, backed by a strong showing from Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who completed the podium in third place.
However, it was the unfolding drama at McLaren that made the headlines. With just a few laps remaining, Lando Norris attempted a bold overtake on his team-mate Piastri while battling for fourth place. The move proved disastrous. Norris clipped the rear of Piastri’s car, sending himself into the barriers and out of the race. Piastri continued, finishing fourth, but the incident immediately sparked controversy. Over team radio, Norris accepted full responsibility for the clash — a gesture that may cool tensions but will do little to ease the damage to his championship hopes.
The crash brought out a late safety car, neutralising the race until the chequered flag and ensuring Russell’s lead remained unchallenged. The anti-climactic finish disappointed many viewers after a weekend of unpredictable weather, chaotic practice sessions, and an intense qualifying battle that had promised more wheel-to-wheel action than what Sunday ultimately delivered.
Off-track, the race had its bizarre moments too. A video went viral of a groundhog sitting calmly on the racing line before being tragically struck by Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari — a grim reminder of the unpredictable nature of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
Ferrari had a subdued afternoon. Despite showing promise earlier in the weekend, the Scuderia could only manage fifth and sixth places with Charles Leclerc and Hamilton respectively, far off the pace of the front-runners.
Further down the field, Fernando Alonso finished seventh for Aston Martin, while Nico Hulkenberg took a solid eighth for Kick Sauber. Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz rounded out the points in ninth and tenth respectively, both a lap down.
Among the notable non-finishers was Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls, while Alex Albon also failed to complete the race.
2025 Canadian Grand Prix – Final Results:
1. George Russell (Mercedes)
2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.228s
3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +1.014s
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +2.109s
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +3.442s
6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +10.713s
7. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +10.972s
8. Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) +15.364s
9. Esteban Ocon (Haas) +1 LAP
10. Carlos Sainz (Williams) +1 LAP
The Canadian Grand Prix may not have lived up to its full potential in terms of action, but the fallout from the McLaren intra-team incident is likely to have major implications for the remainder of the 2025 season.
