The 2025 Canadian Grand Prix certainly didn’t disappoint, serving up a blend of strategic plays and late-race fireworks. With George Russell nabbing a hard-fought win amidst a dramatic collision between McLaren teammates, there’s plenty to unpack from Montreal.
Here’s a look at who emerged as the biggest winners and losers from Round 11 of the 2025 season.
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Canadian Grand Prix Winner: George Russell | Mercedes
George Russell ran a perfect race to bring Mercedes its initial 2025 victory after starting from pole position. He began the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix from pole position for the second consecutive year before maintaining an advantage against Max Verstappen during the first laps. Russell adopted a standard two-stop tire strategy while effectively blocking Verstappen’s pit stop attempts to protect his track position. Through his victory, Russell achieved his fourth career Grand Prix win while delivering the first Montreal triumph for a non-Lewis Hamilton Mercedes driver. Russell continues to be the picture of consistency with five podium finishes for the season, surpassing his total from last year.
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P2 Winner: Max Verstappen | Red Bull
The second-place finish of Max Verstappen failed to extend his three-year Canadian Grand Prix win streak, yet he gained points to stay within striking distance of the driver’s championship. The second-place start enabled him to maintain constant pressure on Russell at the beginning of the race despite radio chatter to the Red Bull team that his tires were “fragile.” Throughout the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, he maintained a competitive position thanks to the team’s effective pit stop strategy, despite occasional delays from Mercedes. The P2 position proved vital to him since it diminished his championship gap against Oscar Piastri to 43 points.
P3 Winner: Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes
What a day for Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli achieved his first F1 podium finish by driving his Mercedes to a third-place position, which brought double points for the team. At age 18 years and 294 days, he became the third youngest driver to achieve a podium finish in Formula 1 history behind Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll. The “Driver of the Day” prize went to Antonelli for his outstanding performance, during which he bypassed Oscar Piastri early and contested for podium spots throughout.
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Canadian Grand Prix Loser: Lando Norris
The incident between Lando Norris and his teammate, Oscar Piastri, during the Canadian Grand Prix ended his race in Montreal. Norris admitted he “misjudged” his attempt to pass Piastri during the closing stages before making contact with the rear of his teammate’s car while braking late. During the radio broadcast, he apologized to his team by saying, “I was stupid,” and declared, “It is all my fault.” The unfortunate incident resulted in a lost chance for points while ending his race with three laps left, which caused the Safety Car activation. Norris had not experienced a DNF since the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix. McLaren had a rare tough weekend, not reaching the podium.
Loser: Ferrari (and Lewis Hamilton)
The Canadian Grand Prix proved difficult for Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton despite Charles Leclerc’s fifth-place finish. During Lap 13, floor damage to his car resulted in a significant loss of downforce, which affected his performance throughout the race. He expressed his frustration on team radio, saying, “I’m nowhere in this race, mate. I don’t know what’s happened.” His race performance suffered a hit when his team members and other drivers overtook him during pit stops, which led to a sixth-place finish and became the first driver in his 19-year F1 career to not score a podium in the opening 10 races of a season. Leclerc expressed confusion about the team’s strategic choices, especially when they decided to fit hard tires without his agreement. The team lost its position as second in the Constructors’ Championship to Mercedes. The drama in the Scuderia continues.
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Loser: Alex Albon | Williams
During the Spanish Grand Prix, Alex Albon recorded his second consecutive retirement after failing to finish the race. The Canadian Grand Prix started poorly for him as he lost control on the grass during the first lap, which forced him to move backward in the field. Early in the race, the Williams team detected a power unit issue, which eventually caused him to retire from competition. His radio discussion about strategy with the team became a source of frustration for Albon because he was the last driver to use medium tires, which made his challenging day worse.
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