George Russell Triumphs at 2025 Canadian GP, Kimi Antonelli Secures Maiden Podium, Ferrari Finishes Fifth and Sixth
June 16, 2025 – George Russell delivered a flawless performance to win the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, marking Mercedes’ first victory of the season. The British driver converted pole position into his fourth career win, finishing ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in second. Mercedes’ 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli celebrated his first Formula 1 podium with a stellar third-place finish, becoming the third-youngest podium finisher in F1 history. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton secured fifth and sixth places, respectively, in a dramatic race that ended under a safety car.
Russell, who set a blistering 1:10.899 in qualifying, led much of the 70-lap race, fending off challenges from Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who finished fourth. A late collision between McLaren teammates Piastri and Lando Norris triggered a safety car, halting Norris’s charge and ensuring Russell’s victory. Antonelli, starting fourth, capitalized on a strong start to overtake Piastri, maintaining pace despite tire wear in the final stint. “It was so stressful but super happy,” Antonelli said, per BBC Sport. Posts on X, like @PolePositionist’s, praised Mercedes’ “faultless weekend.”
Ferrari recovered from a tough weekend, with Leclerc missing FP2 due to a chassis-damaging crash and starting eighth. Strategic pit stops and Leclerc’s pace secured fifth, while Hamilton, starting fifth, settled for sixth. The Scuderia’s P5-P6 finish limited damage in the constructors’ standings, per Formula1.com.
The race, attended by a vibrant Montreal crowd, saw cooler conditions favor Mercedes’ W16, as Russell noted: “The car’s strength is in cooler conditions.” The result shakes up the championship, with Piastri extending his lead over Norris, who crashed out.
