In Pictures: Canada 2025
The Canadian Grand Prix is the tenth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, and the second race in North America after Miami. Montreal has long been a staple on the calendar, once the only round held in this part of the world. The event is a favorite among drivers and teams alike, thanks to the vibrant atmosphere created by the city’s passionate fans. Throughout the week, Montreal comes alive with events tied to the Grand Prix, making it one of the most festive stops of the year.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a semi-permanent track built on the manmade Notre-Dame Island in the Saint Lawrence River, which previously hosted Expo 67 and several competitions during the 1976 Olympic Games.
Although the track was fully resurfaced last year, it has retained its low abrasiveness and limited grip, hallmarks of its character. At 4.361 kilometers long, it features a mix of straights and tight chicanes, with 14 corners. six to the left and eight to the right. It’s a classic stop-and-go circuit where braking stability and traction on corner exit are essential.
Overtaking is very much on the cards, aided by three DRS zones. The most promising opportunity remains the heavy braking zone at the end of the long straight leading back to the start. The chicane that follows, where drivers can still benefit from DRS, has often been the scene of dramatic crashes, earning the nickname “Wall of Champions” after three world champions, Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, and Jacques Villeneuve, all found themselves in it during the 1999 race.
FRIDAY
George Russell ended Friday on top at the Canadian Grand Prix, setting the fastest time of the day with a 1:12.123 in Free Practice 2. The Mercedes driver edged out Lando Norris by just 28 thousandths of a second, with the McLaren driver continuing his strong form. It was an impressive session for Mercedes power, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli posted the third-best time, a 1:12.411. In fact, all seven of the top positions on the timesheet were occupied by cars running Mercedes engines.
Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll didn’t set a time in FP2. The Ferrari driver sat out the session after sustaining damage in FP1, where he locked up at the chicane between Turns 3 and 4, ran onto the grass, and crashed into the barriers. The hometown favorite, meanwhile, clipped the wall exiting Turn 7, breaking his front-left suspension.
SATURDAY
In the third and final practice session, the Soft tire once again did almost all the work. Most drivers—Verstappen, Antonelli, Russell, Stroll, Alonso, Colapinto, Gasly, Lawson, Hadjar, Albon, Sainz, Hülkenberg, and Bortoleto—ran exclusively on the C6 compound, while the Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Racing Bulls duos also scrubbed in one or more sets of Hard tires.
George Russell secured pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix for the second consecutive year. And just like in 2024, he shared the front row with Max Verstappen. Last season, the two drivers set identical lap times of 1:12.000, with Russell taking pole by setting his time first. This time around, there was a clear gap between them, 0.160 seconds, with Russell clocking a 1:10.899 to Verstappen’s 1:11.059. It was Russell’s sixth career pole and his first of the 2025 season. For Mercedes, it marked their 142nd pole overall and their sixth in Montreal.
The second row featured championship leader Oscar Piastri, who qualified third for McLaren with a 1:11.120. He lined up alongside Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who posted a 1:11.391 in the second Mercedes.
SUNDAY
George Russell won the Canadian Grand Prix, his fourth career Formula 1 victory and his third in the Americas. His maiden win came in Brazil in 2022, followed by a victory in Austria in 2024, and then Las Vegas later that same year. With this result, Russell also achieved his first career hat trick: pole position, race win, and fastest lap. It marked Mercedes’ 130th win in Formula 1 and their fifth in Montreal.
It was a banner day for the Silver Arrows, capped off by Andrea Kimi Antonelli finishing third, making him the first Italian driver to stand on an F1 podium since Jarno Trulli finished second for Toyota at the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen came home second, scoring his fifth career podium at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
For the first time this season, neither McLaren driver reached the podium, following an intense intra-team battle. Lando Norris attacked his teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri, but a misjudgment sent him into the pit wall, a crash strikingly reminiscent of the 2011 incident at the same spot, when Lewis Hamilton attempted a move on Jenson Button with similarly early consequences.
EPILOGUE
The 2025 Canadian Grand Prix delivered everything fans have come to expect from Montreal: unpredictability, drama, and a city fully immersed in the spirit of Formula 1. George Russell’s flawless weekend, Antonelli’s breakthrough podium, and the costly clash between McLaren teammates added new layers to an already compelling season. As the championship rolls on, the energy of Montreal will linger, both in the standings and in the memories of those who witnessed another classic on the Île Notre-Dame.
NEXT STOP: Back to Europe, AUSTRIA 🇦🇹
Excerpts and media courtesy of Pirelli S.p.A. and official Formula 1 team press offices. All images are credited to their respective copyright holders and used for editorial purposes only.
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