Russell wins Canadian GP as Norris collides with Piastri

Mercedes driver dominates Canadian Grand Prix while championship leader Piastri extends points gap after teammate collision

George Russell delivered a masterclass performance to secure his first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The Mercedes driver converted pole position into a commanding win at the Canadian Grand Prix, keeping Max Verstappen at bay throughout the 70-lap Montreal thriller.

The race's defining moment came when McLaren's championship hopes took a devastating blow.

Lando Norris crashed into teammate Oscar Piastri's rear wing during a late-race overtaking attempt, ending his own race and gifting crucial points to his title rival.

Russell dominates from the front

Russell's victory never looked in doubt after a perfect getaway from pole position.

The British driver controlled the race tempo from the opening lap, maintaining his advantage through both pit stops in the predicted two-stop strategy.

His measured approach paid dividends during the crucial middle stint.

Russell built a substantial buffer over Verstappen, allowing him to delay his final pit stop until lap 43 and emerge with enough margin to control the race to the checkered flag.

The win marks Mercedes' first victory of 2025 and validates their recent upward trajectory.

Russell's flawless execution under pressure demonstrated the maturity that has defined his breakthrough season.

Antonelli delivers breakthrough performance

Andrea Kimi Antonelli produced the drive of his young career to claim his maiden Formula 1 podium.

The Italian rookie showed remarkable composure, even briefly passing Verstappen as the Red Bull driver entered the pits.

While Antonelli's challenge for second place faded in the race's second half, he held firm against increasing pressure from Piastri.

His defensive masterclass secured third place and completed a stunning Mercedes one-three finish.

The podium represents a significant milestone for the 20-year-old, who has faced intense scrutiny since joining the sport's most successful team.

His performance in Montreal suggests the rookie phase may be ending sooner than expected.

McLaren's championship calculation goes wrong

McLaren's afternoon unraveled in spectacular fashion despite Piastri leading the championship standings.

The team struggled with pace and tire management on a circuit that typically favors their rear tire conservation strengths.

Piastri found himself under siege from fresher-tired Norris in the closing stages.

The championship leader had successfully defended against his teammate's initial attack at the hairpin on lap 46, keeping position through superior braking into the final chicane.

The decisive moment came on the main straight when Norris misjudged a closing gap.

His attempted pass resulted in contact that sent him into the pitwall with terminal suspension damage.

"All on me,"

Norris immediately radioed to his team, accepting full responsibility for the costly error. The collision hands Piastri a crucial 22-point championship lead heading into the Austrian Grand Prix in two weeks.

Ferrari and Hamilton struggle in Montreal

Ferrari endured a frustrating afternoon that highlighted their strategic inconsistencies.

Charles Leclerc appeared set for a manageable one-stop strategy before the team abandoned the approach, ultimately settling for fifth place after Norris's retirement elevated him from sixth.

Lewis Hamilton's difficult transition to Ferrari continued with a particularly rough Montreal weekend.

Despite qualifying fifth, the seven-time champion struggled with disastrously slow race pace that saw him finish sixth behind Leclerc.

Hamilton's woes reportedly stemmed from hitting a groundhog during the race, causing aerodynamic damage that cost crucial downforce.

The incident exemplified his challenging adaptation period with his new team.

Midfield battle delivers entertainment

The midfield provided the race's most entertaining battles, with Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg continuing their impressive form.

Both drivers secured their second consecutive points-scoring finishes, coming out ahead in a thrilling dogfight for seventh and eighth positions.

The final points positions went to Haas driver Esteban Ocon and Williams' Carlos Sainz.

Sainz's recovery drive from 16th on the grid to tenth place demonstrated the fighting spirit that has defined his career resurgence.

Alex Albon's retirement with a Mercedes power unit issue on lap 48 continued Williams' reliability concerns.

Racing Bulls also suffered attrition with Liam Lawson retiring to preserve engine mileage from a hopeless position.

The Canadian Grand Prix's dramatic conclusion sets up a fascinating championship battle heading to Austria.

Piastri's extended lead adds pressure on Norris to respond quickly, while Mercedes' resurgence threatens to complicate the title fight dynamics in the season's crucial middle phase.