As the Formula 1 circus rolls into Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix, the anticipation is building. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, located on an artificial island in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River, has built a reputation for its challenging mix of long straights and sharp chicanes. It’s a race that pushes drivers to balance aggression with pinpoint control, and mistakes are punished.
The notorious “Wall of Champions” has ended the races of multiple world champions over the years, including Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, and Jenson Button.
With the championship battle heating up and momentum shifting across the grid, it’s set to be one of the most exciting races on the calendar. From seasoned title contenders to breakout stars and rising talents, these five drivers are poised to play pivotal roles in how the race—and potentially the season—unfolds.
Whether it’s chasing victory, proving consistency, or seizing a career-defining opportunity, here are the names you need to watch closely in Canada.
Oscar Piastri – McLaren
Oscar Piastri has quickly established himself as one of Formula 1’s brightest young talents. Currently sitting first in the Drivers’ Championship on 186 points, he’s not just competing — he’s contending for the title. He kicked off the year with wins in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, signalling that he’s here to challenge at the top.
Over the last five races, he’s secured three podium finishes, including two victories, showcasing consistent high-level performances. Piastri has impressed with his calm and composed demeanour behind the wheel — he’s aggressive when he needs to be but measured in his approach, a style that has helped him stay at the top step this season.
At last year’s Canadian GP, Piastri demonstrated his ability to handle the unique demands of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve; he qualified fourth and finished a respectable fifth. His performance was crucial in helping McLaren secure their best points tally at this circuit in a decade.
Now, with McLaren’s improved MCL39 showing strong pace against the rest of the field, Piastri is in the perfect position to strengthen his lead in the Driver’s Championship. His pace, form and race craft make him a driver to watch for the win this weekend.
Lando Norris – McLaren
Lando Norris has also enjoyed a strong start to the 2025 season. With two race victories and an impressive eight podium finishes in nine races, Norris currently sits second in the Drivers’ Championship with 176 points — keeping the pressure firmly on championship leader, Oscar Piastri.
These consistent performances have proven Lando is more than capable of competing at the front, helping McLaren maintain a dominant presence at the top of the standings. As the team battles for supremacy, expect Norris to be a key figure in what’s shaping up to be a team-mate battle for the Driver’s Championship. While it may not match the intense level of the 2016 season rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, it could be set to be one on the most compelling teammate battles we’ve seen in recent years.
Looking ahead to the Canadian Grand Prix, Lando returns with valuable experience from last year’s race. Despite a strategic mistake from McLaren, a strong performance from Lando battling through challenging conditions with intermittent rain and several safety cars, secured him a second-place finish, behind Max Verstappen.
This time around, he will be aiming to capitalise on that experience and use it to put himself onto the top step, so keep an eye on him to challenge for the win this weekend.
Max Verstappen – Red Bull
After a chaotic end to the Spanish Grand Prix filled with controversial team orders, high tensions, and a questionable collision with George Russell, all eyes will be on Max Verstappen this weekend — though not for the right reasons.
Verstappen currently has 11 penalty points on his super licence, just one shy of the 12-point threshold that would trigger a race ban under the FIA’s current system. This looming penalty adds a new layer of pressure on the reigning world champion, as no driver has yet faced a race ban under these rules.
In Paralell, Verstappen’s aggressive racing style and willingness to push the limits continue to make him one of the most exciting drivers in the world to watch, and this approach has already earned him four Drivers’ World Championships.
In 2025, that fearless style has delivered standout moments like his commanding win at the Emilia-Romagna GP—a true world champion performance—and his strong qualifying pace lead him to a victory at the Japanese GP.
These impressive results have him sitting third in the Drivers’ Championship with 137 points. However, a difficult Spanish GP, where he secured just one point, has taken him a step back from the already dominant McLaren’s.
With so much at stake, Verstappen’s approach in Montreal will be under intense scrutiny. Will he be able to keep his aggression in check, or will the mounting pressure lead to another incident?
Either way, the Canadian GP promises to be a critical turning point in Verstappen’s season. He’s one to watch as he fights to stay in championship contention and avoid suspension.
Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
Also involved in the action during the closing stages of the Spanish GP was Charles Leclerc, who capitalised on a late safety car to snatch another podium finish — his third of the season. That result reflects the Monegasque driver’s consistent run of form, even as Ferrari continues to work on refining the SF-25 to make it a regular podium contender.
While Ferrari may still be a step behind their front-running rivals in terms of outright pace, Leclerc has been quietly effective and his ability to extract performance from the car, particularly in qualifying, remains one of his standout traits. His consistent performances put him fifth in the drivers’ standings with 94 points, closely behind George Russell, going into the Canadian GP.
Leclerc will be hoping for a more positive outcome than last year. In 2024, both he and teammate Carlos Sainz retired from the race, marking Ferrari’s first double retirement at the circuit since 1996.
With both Leclerc and Hamilton being disqualified from the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix due to technical infringements earlier in the season, a clean and competitive race in Montreal is all the more crucial to stay ahead of Red Bull and Mercede in the Constructors Championship.
With that being said, Ferrari won’t be bringing any major upgrades to the Canadian GP, meaning Leclerc will have to make the most of the current SF-25 package before the next round of developments arrive.
He’s one to watch this weekend as he looks to maximise every opportunity and keep his momentum alive in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested season for Ferrari.
Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls
After a tough start to the season that saw him retire before the lights even went out in Australia, Isack Hadjar has bounced back with growing confidence and consistency.
The rookie has gone on to deliver a string of composed performances, securing six points finishes and placing himself ninth in the drivers’ championship with 21 points — a commendable turnaround in his debut season. He currently sits ahead of both his teammate Liam Lawson and senior Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda in the driver’s standings.
Hadjar’s recent form has been particularly impressive. He delivered a season-best sixth-place finish at the tight street circuit in Monaco, with support from his team mate Liam Lawson. He followed that up with a strong drive to seventh in Spain, adding more valuable points and proving once again that he belongs in the midfield fight.
Remarkably, his 14-point haul across those two races outscored the combined total of the Red Bull drivers over the same period, who managed just 11 points between them. That level of consistency is marking him out to be a rookie to keep an eye on this season.
The Canadian Grand Prix will present a new kind of test. Hadjar has never raced at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, as neither the 2023 nor 2024 Formula 2 calendars featured a round in Canada. As a result, this weekend will mark his first competitive appearance at the iconic Montreal venue.
It’s both a challenge and an opportunity for the young Frenchman — a chance to demonstrate his adaptability and composure on unfamiliar ground. He one watch as he continues to prove he belongs in Formula 1.
Summary
The Canadian Grand Prix promises excitement and unpredictability, with these drivers all ready to make an impact. Whether it’s battling for the championship or proving themselves on new ground, they are the ones to watch as the season heats up in Montreal.
Who will you be watching closely this weekend?
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