F1 2025 – Canada GP: Flawless George Russell Gives Mercedes-AMG Its First Win Of The Season

Round 10 of the 2025 Formula One season has concluded at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal. George Russell converted his pole position to victory, marking his first win in the 2025 season. This also marked Mercedes-AMG's first podium finish of 2025, and making this victory sweeter was the team's rookie driver, Kimi Antonelli. The 18-year-old Italian claimed his debut F1 career podium finish by finishing in P3. He also created history by becoming the third youngest F1 podium finisher behind Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll.

But it was Russell’s skill backed by an impeccable 2-stop strategy from the Mercedes camp that was the biggest showcase of the day. The Briton started the race on Hard compound tyres. But an early pit stop ensured that the Mercedes driver was ahead of McLaren and Red Bull and that worked clinically for the Brackley-based team. 

Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished the Canadian GP sandwiched between the two Mercedes drivers at P2. The Dutch driver displayed clinical driving that was free of any aggressive moves, unlike what happened in Spain. His P2 finish has now brought him closer to Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who are currently leading the Driver's Championship.

(Also Read: Spanish Grand Prix 2025: Oscar Piastri Wins Yet Again; McLaren Bags Top Two Spots)

Speaking of the McLaren duo -- Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ended on a dramatic note after colliding with each other. Wherein the former had to retire from the race. Most of the frontrunners had successfully executed a two-stop strategy. While Russell was leading Verstappen, Piastri was trying to catch up to Antonelli, but the Australian also had his teammate hot on his tail. This led to a fierce battle between the two orange cars that ended with Norris making contact with his teammate's left rear wheel, causing the Briton to lose his front wing and left front wheel. This led to a safety car session on Lap 67, which remained out for the remainder of the race and ended with Russell crossing the line to seal his fourth career Grand Prix victory. Piastri managed to hold on to his fourth position, despite sneaking in a pit stop to change to softer compound tyres during the SC session.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished the race at P5 and P6, respectively. While Leclerc was leading the race for a while, a necessary second pit stop saw the Monégasque driver drop below just ahead of his teammate. Meanwhile, Hamilton's race was compromised after he picked up damage very early, which affected his downforce. Due to which, the Briton couldn't really put up much of a fight throughout the race owing to the car's lack of pace.

Fernando Alonso added some crucial points to his tally by claiming seventh for Aston Martin, while Kick Sauber's Nico Hülkenberg trailed him with a solid eighth-place finish. Haas' 200th Grand Prix race saw the team finish at P9 with Esteban Ocon, while Carlos Sainz rounded off the top 10 after a determined one-stop strategy and starting the race from P16. His teammate Alex Albon was not so lucky this time, as he had to retire the car late in the race due to a powertrain failure. Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson was the third casualty of the session and he had to retire his car to safeguard the power unit.

The F1 circus will now head to Max Verstappen's home ground, the Red Bull Ring in Austria, from June 27 to 29. Will Mercedes-AMG be able to maintain this momentum? Will McLaren be more cautious now and prevent its drivers from battling each other, like they did today? Only time will tell.