George Russell Claims Mercedes’ First 2025 F1 Win at Dramatic Canadian GP, McLaren Teammates Collide

George Russell secured Mercedes` first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the Canadian Grand Prix. The race was highlighted by a dramatic late collision between McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

Throughout the grand prix, Russell successfully defended his lead against Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli achieved his maiden F1 podium finish by securing third place.

Russell`s victory required a lengthy wait for official confirmation, nearly six hours after he crossed the finish line. This delay was due to a Red Bull protest which alleged that Russell drove erratically under the Safety Car period that occurred at the end of the race following the McLaren incident. The protest was ultimately rejected.

How Piastri, Norris Came to Blows

Major drama unfolded in the battle for fourth place between the two McLaren drivers. With just four laps remaining, Piastri and Norris made contact near the start/finish line, resulting in Lando Norris retiring from the race.

Norris later accepted responsibility for the incident, describing his overtaking attempt as “stupid” and offering apologies to both the team and Piastri. The clash occurred after Norris, who started seventh on a different tire strategy, closed the gap to Piastri in the closing stages. Piastri had been held up by traffic while trying to challenge Antonelli for third, which allowed Norris to catch up rapidly.

The decisive moment came on Lap 66 when Norris attempted an aggressive move down the inside of Piastri at the Turn 10 hairpin. They continued side-by-side down the back straight. As they approached the final chicane, Piastri had the inside line but got a poor exit. Norris then saw a potential opening on the inside as they headed towards Turn 1, where the two cars made high-speed contact. The impact immediately broke Norris`s front wing, forcing his retirement, while Piastri managed to continue and finish fourth.

Russell Beats Verstappen

The fight for the lead saw George Russell successfully maintain his starting position ahead of Max Verstappen. Although Verstappen applied significant pressure in the early laps, Russell was able to hold him off. Mercedes executed their pit stop strategy effectively, covering Verstappen`s moves and ensuring Russell maintained sufficient pace to avoid serious challenge from the reigning world champion.

Reflecting on his win, Russell expressed his delight, calling it “amazing to be back on the top step.” He added, “Amazing day for the team. Thanks to everyone back at the factory for working to get us back fighting for victories. it feels good.” He also highlighted his happiness for Antonelli securing his first podium.

Further down the field, Charles Leclerc finished in fifth place for Ferrari. He was followed by his teammate Lewis Hamilton in sixth, whose race was compromised by damage sustained early on when he hit a groundhog. Hamilton reported losing around half a second per lap due to the damage.

Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin achieved his best result of the season in seventh place. He finished ahead of Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber), Esteban Ocon (Haas), and Carlos Sainz (Williams), who rounded out the top ten.

Canadian driver Lance Stroll received the only penalty of the race for forcing Pierre Gasly off the track at the final chicane.

Retirements during the race included Alex Albon, who suffered an engine problem after expressing frustration with his team`s strategy, and Liam Lawson.

Canadian GP Result

The next event on the 2025 Formula 1 calendar is the Austrian Grand Prix.