Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix: A Comprehensive Recap of the Race
The Canadian Grand Prix, held on June 15, marked the tenth race of the Formula 1 season and took place at the renowned Gilles Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal, Quebec. This event showcased a remarkable display of skill and strategy, particularly from the Mercedes-AMG Petronas team, which not only secured the top two spots on the podium but also demonstrated a significant leap in the Constructors’ Championship standings.
A Stellar Victory for George Russell
George Russell emerged victorious in this thrilling race, starting from pole position and maintaining his lead throughout the competition. His performance was nothing short of dominant, as he crossed the finish line ahead of Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, who finished in second place. Russell’s teammate, Kimi Antonelli, achieved an impressive milestone by securing his first-ever podium finish in Formula 1, completing the race in third place. This achievement was particularly notable as Antonelli was also voted Driver of the Day by official F1 fans, highlighting his remarkable performance.
With this outstanding 1-3 finish, Mercedes climbed to second place in the Constructors’ Championship standings. Antonelli’s accomplishment was especially significant as he became the third-youngest driver in F1 history to finish on the podium, at the age of 18 years and 294 days. He follows the likes of Max Verstappen, who made his podium debut at just 16 years old, and Lance Stroll, who was 18 years and 239 days at the time of his first podium.
Yuki Tsunoda’s Disappointing Weekend
On the other hand, Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing, faced a challenging weekend. After qualifying in 18th position, Tsunoda managed to gain only six positions during the race, finishing in 12th place. His difficulties were compounded by a ten-place grid penalty incurred for overtaking Oscar Piastri during a red flag period in Free Practice 3. This penalty added to the disappointment of a weekend that Tsunoda would likely prefer to forget.
Team Performance Analysis
Let’s delve deeper into the performances of the other teams that managed to score points during the Canadian Grand Prix, ranked by their finishing positions.
McLaren’s Struggles
For the first time in the 2025 season, McLaren found itself outside the top three, a result that was foreshadowed by their previous sessions leading up to the race. The British team only managed to get one of their cars across the finish line. After losing pole and second place during Saturday’s qualifying sessions, expectations were low for their performance on Canadian soil.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris started the race from third and seventh positions, respectively, but neither driver could match the pace they had shown earlier in the season, from the Australian Grand Prix to the Spanish Grand Prix. As the race progressed, Norris made a critical mistake in the final laps while attempting to overtake his teammate Piastri. In a reckless move to pass on the outside, he lost control, resulting in contact between the two McLarens. This incident led to Norris retiring from the race after damaging his front wing and breaking his left-front suspension.
Ferrari’s Consistent Finish
The Scuderia Ferrari team delivered a solid performance, with both drivers finishing within the top six. Charles Leclerc, who qualified in eighth, managed to race his way up to fifth place by the end of the event. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, who had qualified in fifth position, lost a place to Leclerc during the race and ultimately finished in sixth.
Ferrari’s performance was a testament to their ability to compete consistently within the top ranks, even if they did not challenge for podium finishes on this occasion.
Aston Martin’s Mixed Results
After scoring points for the first time this season in the previous race in Barcelona, Fernando Alonso continued his strong performance for Aston Martin by finishing in the top ten again. Alonso started from sixth on the grid and maintained his position throughout the race, finishing in seventh place. However, his teammate Lance Stroll had a disappointing outing, starting and finishing in 17th place, far from the top ten and failing to impress in front of his home crowd in Canada.
This result was a letdown for Stroll but a positive outcome for Aston Martin, which moved up to eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship, overtaking the Sauber team.
Sauber’s Back-to-Back Points Finish
The Stake Kick Sauber team celebrated another points finish thanks to Nico Hulkenberg, who started the race in 11th place and demonstrated a solid performance, climbing to finish in eighth. His teammate, Gabriel Bortoleto, showcased resilience in his rookie season, finishing in 14th place after starting from 15th. This marked a commendable effort from the young Brazilian, considering his limited experience in Formula 1.
Haas Returns to Points
After a disappointing race in Spain, the MoneyGram Haas team rebounded in Canada. Esteban Ocon played a crucial role in this return to form, starting from 14th place and finishing in ninth. His performance was instrumental in bringing Haas back into the points after their previous race without any score. Meanwhile, Oliver Bearman, Haas’s other driver, finished just outside the points in 11th place after starting 13th.
With Ocon’s ninth-place finish, Haas climbed to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, overtaking the Racing Bulls.
Williams Racing’s Feeble Performance
The Atlassian Williams Racing team returned to scoring points at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after leaving Barcelona empty-handed. Carlos Sainz finished in tenth place, having started from 16th, which showcased his ability to navigate the field effectively. Unfortunately, Alex Albon faced mechanical issues and did not finish the race, joining Lando Norris and Liam Lawson as one of the three drivers who failed to complete the event.
Despite Sainz’s efforts, Williams left Canada with a sense of missed opportunity, especially given their previous competitive performances earlier in the season.
Teams That Failed to Score Points
The teams that failed to score points in Montreal were BWT Alpine and Visa Cash App RB, both of which struggled to find pace throughout the race.
Championship Standings Update
As of now, the top ten drivers in the Drivers’ Championship are as follows:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 198 points
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 176 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – 155 points
- George Russell (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) – 136 points
- Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari HP) – 104 points
- Lewis Hamilton (Scuderia Ferrari HP) – 79 points
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) – 63 points
- Alex Albon (Atlassian Williams Racing) – 42 points
- Esteban Ocon (MoneyGram Haas) – 22 points
- Isack Hadjar (Visa Cash App RB) – 21 points
In the Constructors’ Championship, the standings are as follows:
- McLaren – 374 points
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas – 199 points
- Scuderia Ferrari HP – 183 points
- Oracle Red Bull Racing – 162 points
- Atlassian Williams Racing – 55 points
- MoneyGram Haas – 28 points
- Visa Cash App RB – 28 points
- Aston Martin Aramco – 22 points
- Kick Sauber – 20 points
- BWT Alpine – 11 points
The next race on the calendar for the 2025 Formula 1 season is the Austrian Grand Prix, scheduled for June 29. As the season progresses, teams will be looking to refine their strategies and improve their standings in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. The excitement continues to build as we head into the next thrilling chapter of this year’s Formula 1 saga.
