Round 9 – Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, June 15, 2025
George Russell became the fourth different winner of the 2025 Formula 1 season with a brilliant drive to victory in Montreal, his first win of the year and a major boost for Mercedes. While Russell and his team found form at just the right time, others didn’t perform so well. From standout performances to costly errors, let’s take a closer look at who delivered in Canada, and who missed the mark.
Drivers Who Delivered
These are the drivers who either exceeded expectations, showed their class, or made a key impact on the race.
George Russell – Mercedes
George Russell put in a commanding performance to clinch Pole Position in Montreal for the second consecutive year. He edged out Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen in the thrilling final moments of qualifying, securing pole by 0.160 seconds with a lap time of 1m 10.899s. His pace was clear all weekend, having topped the timesheets in FP2.
On race day, Russell was flawless. He managed the start well and controlled the race from the front, even under pressure from Verstappen and rookie Kimi Antonelli. A late-race safety car, triggered by a clash between the two McLarens, threatened to shake things up but Russell stayed calm and secured the win at the restart.
Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli arrived in Montreal off the back of a frustrating European triple-header that yielded no points, so he needed a strong weekend, and he delivered. The young Italian impressed in qualifying, securing P4 with one of his best performances yet.
On race day, Antonelli showcased maturity beyond his years. He held his position well through the opening laps and managed his tires intelligently. Despite pressure from experienced rivals, he kept a cool head and made key overtakes when needed to move up the order.
Antonelli crossed the finish line in 3rd place, claiming the first podium of his F1 career and becoming the third youngest podium finisher ever behind only Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll. His breakthrough result marks him as one of the sport’s brightest young talents and a key figure for Mercedes’ future.
Nico Hulkenberg – Kick Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg came into Canada off the back of a brilliant P5 finish in the Spanish Grand Prix, and he carried that momentum into Montreal. A strong qualifying effort saw him start 12th on the grid his best race start since China.
On race day, Hulkenberg delivered once again. A sharp start, capitalizing on a first-lap tangle between Colapinto and Albon, set the tone for a solid points finish. He managed his race well, navigating traffic and making the most of opportunities to climb into the top ten.
His points haul marks the first time Kick Sauber has scored consecutive points finishes since Valtteri Bottas did so in 2022. While the team still sits ninth in the constructors’ championship, performances like this have narrowed the gap, leaving Kick Sauber just eight points shy of sixth-placed Haas.
Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso enjoyed one of his strongest weekends of the 2025 season at the Canadian Grand Prix, delivering a well-executed drive to finish seventh. After qualifying P6 — just 0.228s off pole — Alonso once again showed his skill over one lap, helped by a smart tyre strategy that saw both Aston Martins reach Q3.
The race itself brought challenges, including a Safety Car period, but Alonso kept a strong, consistent pace and managed his race well to bring home six valuable points. It marked his second consecutive points finish and a much-needed turnaround after a tough start to the season, which was plagued by DNFs and eight consecutive rounds without scoring.
Drivers Who Missed the Mark
Not everyone had a race to remember. These drivers either struggled with pace, made errors, or were let down by circumstances.
Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
Returning to the grid after missing the Spanish Grand Prix due to wrist surgery, Lance Stroll made his home race appearance in Montreal but endured a tough and ultimately frustrating weekend. A Q1 exit — his fourth of the season — left him 17th on the grid. Light contact with the wall during qualifying appeared to unsettle the car, and he later reported that it didn’t feel right.
Things went from bad to worse in the race, as Stroll received a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision with Pierre Gasly. He eventually crossed the line in 17th place, extending his current run to seven consecutive races without scoring points — a disappointing stretch for the Canadian at his home event.
Yuki Tsunoda – Red Bull
Tsunoda’s weekend unravelled early, with brake issues hampering his practice sessions. Things worsened when he overtook a damaged McLaren under red flag conditions in FP3, earning a 10-place grid penalty. He qualified P11 but was forced to start from the back, leaving him with too much to do in the race.
Despite a promising recovery strategy that saw him gain ground with a long opening stint on intermediates, Tsunoda’s race came undone in the closing laps. Under pressure, he locked up and spun off track, dropping out of the points and finishing 14th. He admitted it was a “stupid move” and apologised to the team but still took encouragement from the pace and strategy shown earlier in the race.
Lando Norris – McLaren
Lando Norris qualified seventh for the Canadian Grand Prix, continuing a recent upswing after a difficult start to the season that saw him struggle in qualifying sessions. Starting on hard tyres and running a longer first stint, Norris made good progress early in the race, moving up to sixth by lap 11 after overtaking Fernando Alonso. However, in the closing stages, with fresher tyres, he attempted a late race overtake on teammate Oscar Piastri at the hairpin but misjudged the move, causing a collision that immediately ended his race. Piastri was able to continue and finish fourth.
Norris took full responsibility for the incident, calling it a “stupid move” and apologising to both Piastri and the team. McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella expressed disappointment over the avoidable collision, which cost the team valuable points. Despite the setback, Norris showed strong pace throughout the weekend, highlighting McLaren’s competitiveness as they look to bounce back
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Canadian Grand Prix proved to be a pivotal race in the season, with standout performances and tough lessons alike. George Russell’s commanding win signaled Mercedes’ return to form, while young talents like Kimi Antonelli and seasoned drivers such as Fernando Alonso reminded us why they remain forces to watch. Meanwhile, teams like McLaren and Aston Martin faced a mixed weekend, balancing flashes of speed with costly mistakes.
For some, like Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda, it was a weekend to forget, highlighting the fine margins and unforgiving nature of Formula 1. Lando Norris’s late-race error was a harsh reminder that even the best can falter under pressure, yet his pace showed McLaren’s potential moving forward.
As the championship heads into the summer break, teams will reflect on lessons learned and look to build on positives. The 2025 season continues to thrill, with battles on and off-track intensifying. Canada has set the stage for an exciting second half, promising more drama, surprises, and unforgettable racing.
Leave a comment