MONTREAL — In a thrilling showdown at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday, George Russell clinched his first Formula 1 victory of the season, successfully fending off last year’s champion Max Verstappen. The Mercedes driver’s triumph at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve marks his fourth career win and was capped off with a dramatic finish under yellow flags when McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris engaged in a fierce late-race duel that saw Norris colliding with the wall.
Russell, who commenced the race from pole position for the second straight year in Montreal, maintained his leading edge throughout much of the contest. “It’s amazing to be back on the top step,” he exclaimed, adding that it felt like redemption for a victory lost the previous year. The British driver, joined by teammate Kimi Antonelli on the podium, described it as an exceptional day for Mercedes. He underscored, “It shows the strength of our cars in the cooler conditions.” Russell became the fourth different winner this season, joining the ranks of series points leader Piastri, Norris, and the four-time defending F1 champion Verstappen.
Second-place Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his performance despite challenges with tire management in the earlier stages of the race. “We hung in there in the final stint,” commented the Dutchman, noting that the outcome was likely the best achievable on the day. Meanwhile, Antonelli, in his rookie season with Mercedes, celebrated his inaugural F1 podium finish, securing third place. Toto Wolff, Mercedes’ team principal, praised both drivers for their exceptional performance and management under pressure, especially with the McLarens in close pursuit.
The race took an unexpected turn when Norris attempted multiple overtakes on his McLaren cohort Piastri during the 67th lap out of 70. The fiercely contested battle led to Norris making contact with Piastri and ricocheting into the wall, triggering a safety car that paced the field to the finish. After the race, Norris received a five-second penalty and accepted responsibility for the incident. “I just went for it,” Norris admitted, pledging to learn from the misjudgment. Piastri finished fourth, snapping an eight-race streak of podium finishes and marking a first this year where McLaren failed a top-three finish as a team.
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s team principal, reinforced the team’s stance on internal conflicts, stating that such incidents are unacceptable. Yet, he appreciated Norris’s immediate admission of fault and subsequent apology, reflecting on it as a substantial learning opportunity. Piastri extended his season lead to 22 points over Norris, with Verstappen trailing the latter by 21 points in the drivers’ standings.
Elsewhere on the grid, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fifth and sixth respectively, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, Haas’ Esteban Ocon, and Williams’ Carlos Sainz Jr. completing the top 10. Notably, Leclerc, who delayed his second pit stop, led briefly on the 54th lap before relenting to the chargers.
Local favorite Lance Stroll, the only Canadian in the 20-driver lineup, concluded the race in 17th place after starting 18th. A 10-second penalty marred his efforts after he forced Alpine’s Pierre Gasly off-track. Heading forward, the Canadian Grand Prix returns next year, while the Formula 1 calendar moves on to the Austrian Grand Prix set for June 29.