CANADIAN GP: RUSSELL DOMINATES, ANTONELLI SCORES FIRST PODIUM

The Canadian Grand Prix crowned George Russell as the undisputed star of the weekend. Starting from a pole position secured at the last moment in qualifying, the Mercedes driver delivered a flawless race, managing every phase of a complex, strategy-heavy contest with calm authority. Despite making two pit stops—a common strategy among teams but tricky to execute—Russell maintained full composure. Not even the constant pressure from Max Verstappen, always looming but never truly threatening, could shake him.

Russell completed the 70 laps with icy control, earning his fourth career win and first victory of the 2025 season. It was a success built from Saturday’s qualifying, where he narrowly edged out Verstappen. With this win, Russell consolidates his fourth place in the championship standings, closing the gap to the Dutchman to just 19 points.

As for Verstappen, he did everything in his power. He launched an attack in the opening laps and kept the pressure high throughout the race, but ultimately had to deal with heavier tire degradation compared to the Mercedes. The three-time world champion had to settle for a respectable second place, never truly within striking distance for a pass.

A heartwarming twist came in parc fermé: after past tensions, a truce seemed to take hold. The two shared an embrace, discussed their cars in a friendly technical exchange, and celebrated on the podium with champagne and smiles. It was a reminder of Formula 1’s best side—fierce rivals on track, respectful competitors off it.

But Montreal will be remembered above all for the breakout performance of Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The 18-year-old Italian talent, in just his tenth Grand Prix, scored his maiden F1 podium with a bold and composed performance. Starting from the second row, he overtook Oscar Piastri at the second braking zone, seizing third place with authority—and never gave it up.

Antonelli even applied early pressure on Verstappen, forcing the Red Bull driver to pit earlier than planned. In the second half of the race, he held off Piastri’s attacks and ultimately benefited from the chaotic duel between championship leader Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate. Their battle allowed Antonelli to build just enough of a gap to secure third place under the safety car.

A historic achievement: it’s been nearly 16 years since the last Italian stood on a Formula 1 podium—Jarno Trulli finished second at Suzuka in 2009. Before him, Giancarlo Fisichella did so with Force India. Now, the future of Italian motorsport has a new face: Antonelli.

The late-race McLaren intra-team clash proved decisive. With four laps remaining, Norris made a desperate lunge on Piastri, squeezing into an impossibly narrow gap between the wall and his teammate’s car. The outcome was inevitable: contact, Norris into the barriers, and a safety car deployment.

Norris owned up to the mistake without hesitation, calling himself “stupid” in post-race interviews and offering a direct apology to the team. Meanwhile, Piastri extended his championship lead over Norris to 22 points.

For Ferrari, it was a race to forget. Charles Leclerc finished fifth, while Lewis Hamilton—suffering from early damage to his SF-25—could do no better than sixth. The result wasn’t enough to hold second in the Constructors’ standings: Ferrari now trails Mercedes, 199 to 183 points. McLaren remains solidly in the lead with 374.

Fernando Alonso crossed the line seventh, delivering another consistent result that reflects Aston Martin-Mercedes’ continued progress. The veteran Spaniard, who qualified sixth, executed a solid, mistake-free drive in a tricky race. Eighth went to Nico Hulkenberg, who is looking increasingly at home in the Sauber-Ferrari after finishing fifth in Spain. In contrast, their teammates had little to show: Lance Stroll remained off the radar, while Gabriel Bortoleto again struggled to match his teammate’s pace.

Noteworthy performances came from Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz, both of whom started on hard tires and stretched their stints deep into the race. Ocon brought his Haas-Ferrari home in ninth, while Sainz took tenth for Williams-Mercedes, grabbing the final point. Just outside the top ten was Oliver Bearman in 11th, followed by Yuki Tsunoda, who failed to score for the third race in a row.

A disastrous day for Racing Bulls-Honda saw Liam Lawson retire with engine trouble and Isack Hadjar finishing deep in the field. Williams didn’t fare much better, with Alexander Albon forced to retire due to a mechanical issue.

One bright spot came from Alpine-Renault: Franco Colapinto finished 13th, showing impressive pace and determination, while Pierre Gasly—starting from the pit lane—crossed the line 15th.

© Cavalieri Garage & Co.