George Russell Clinches First Win of the 2025 Formula 1 Season at Canadian Grand Prix
In an exhilarating race at the Canadian Grand Prix, George Russell celebrated his first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season, showcasing a dominant performance from pole position to the chequered flag. The British driver, representing Mercedes, finished ahead of championship leader Max Verstappen, who took second place. Remarkably, 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Russell’s teammate, secured his first podium finish, rounding out an impressive day for the Mercedes team.
This victory marked a significant milestone for Mercedes, as it was their first win since the Las Vegas Grand Prix last year, ending a challenging dry spell for the iconic Silver Arrows. For Russell, the win was especially sweet, given that he had narrowly missed out on a win at the same circuit just a year prior.
The race took a dramatic twist in the closing laps when McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collided, leading to a safety car deployment that ultimately concluded the race under caution. Norris, who was chasing his teammate for fourth place, attempted an overtaking maneuver at the hairpin on lap 66. Unfortunately, he misjudged his move, clipping Piastri’s car and resulting in the loss of his front wing, forcing him to retire and significantly impacting his championship hopes.
After the race, Russell expressed his elation: "It’s amazing to be back on the top step. The last time for us was back in Vegas. I felt last year was a victory lost, but today, I owe it to my incredible pole lap yesterday." He also praised his young teammate, stating, "I’m so happy to see Kimi on the podium as well. It’s an amazing day for the team."
Max Verstappen acknowledged the challenges faced by Red Bull during the race and noted their aggressive strategy to optimize their results: "We were implementing a quite aggressive strategy, but luckily we managed to hang in there during the final stint."
Reflecting on his first-ever podium finish, Antonelli said: "It was so stressful but I’m super happy. I had a good start, managed to jump into P3, and just stayed up there at the front."
As the safety car concluded the race, Russell crossed the finish line ahead of Verstappen and Antonelli, securing Mercedes’ first victory of the season.
In the final standings, Piastri recovered to finish fourth despite the earlier collision, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton claimed fifth and sixth places respectively. Rounding out the points were Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Carlos Sainz.
Antonelli’s impressive third-place finish made him the third-youngest driver to reach a Formula 1 podium, marking a memorable debut season for the Italian teenager. This race also highlighted the competitive nature of the 2025 season, with Russell becoming the fourth different winner this year, adding to his career tally of four victories.
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