Russell Takes the Checkered Flag; McLaren's Collision Causes Chaos
McLaren teammates involved in fatal collision, with one team member transforming into a super-GAU.
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George Russell bagged a well-deserved victory at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix, outpacing Max Verstappen. The intense competition between teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris resulted in a devastating wreck mere laps from the finish line, dealing a significant blow to McLaren's title aspirations.
Victory for Mercedes as McLaren faces a painful setback: George Russell secured the first win of the season for Mercedes, while McLaren suffered a crushing blow in the championship race. The fierce battle for fourth place between Piastri and Norris spiraled out of control, resulting in a crash that ended Norris' race and his hopes of staying competitive with Piastri in the championship. "My mistake, guys, I'm sorry," Norris radioed to the pits after the crash.
Neither Red Bull nor McLaren were a part of Russell's triumph in Montreal, as the two teams were engaged in their own intense struggle for fourth place. Up ahead, Russell moved swiftly from pole position to victory, leaving Verstappen in his dust. Seventeen-year-old Kimi Antonelli thrilled spectators with his first F1 podium in the second Mercedes. The McLaren drivers couldn’t make it to the podium for the first time this season, despite their usually strong performances.
Russell's win marked the end of Verstappen and McLaren's winning streak, as they had claimed victory in every race prior. With Russell's contract with Mercedes set to expire at the end of the season, this fourth career win is crucial for his future. Verstappen, who had had a collision with Russell in Spain, kept his cool and avoided penalties. Norris, on the other hand, took a heavy blow to his championship hopes with his run-in with Piastri.
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Fifth and sixth places went to the Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Nico Hülkenberg, the 37-year-old driver from Emmerich, once again delivered a surprise performance, earning points in Spain. In his Sauber, he finished eighth, just behind Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin).
The first-row battle between Russell and Verstappen was the focus of the race. "The first turn will be tricky and crucial, but it's a long race," said Red Bull's motorsport advisor Helmut Marko on Sky. Marko believed there was no danger of another incident between Verstappen and Russell. "Max needs to keep his cool and focus on his race. I don't think anything will happen," Marko stated.
When the race began, Marko's words proved true. Russell had the advantage off the line, with Verstappen unable to mount a challenge. Behind them, Piastri lost third place to Antonelli in the opening laps, and Hülkenberg moved up to ninth. However, Verstappen soon radioed in with complaints about his deteriorating tire grip.
A pit stop became necessary, as Antonelli closed the gap rapidly behind him. Russell entered the pits just after Antonelli and maintained his lead. Antonelli quickly reduced the gap between them. Up front, Norris and Leclerc took the lead, having started on hard tires and potentially employing a one-stop strategy. However, Russell and Verstappen began making steady progress. Leclerc and Norris' tire changes soon followed.
Mercedes driver Russell moved ahead of the champions around the race's midpoint. Up until then, the race had been relatively uneventful for McLaren. With 15 laps remaining, Russell regained the lead. Norris and Piastri made a final, desperate attempt for the podium, ultimately crashing.
"I take the blame for this. I'm sorry, it was reckless of me," a regretful Lando Norris radioed to the pits after the crash. A costly mistake in the championship race by Norris.
- Formula 1
- Ferrari (Formula-1)
- Mercedes AMG
- McLaren
- Max Verstappen
- Lewis Hamilton
Collision Details
- The wreck between Piastri and Norris occurred during the final stages of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, out of anger and frustration from their fierce battle for position.
- Norris was forced to retire from the race, while Piastri continued and finished fourth, gaining valuable points that improved his standing in the drivers’ championship.
- Norris took full responsibility for the crash, admitting his error and apologizing to Piastri, the team, and the media. Conversations between the drivers post-race suggested a rift hadn't occurred and that the incident was an isolated mistake.
The collision between McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris occurred during the final stages of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix, ending Norris' race and his chances in the championship. This incident took place amidst their intense battle for position, disrupting their usual strong performances in the European leagues.
George Russell's win for Mercedes marked the end of Max Verstappen's and McLaren's winning streak in Formula 1, with Verstappen finishing fifth and the Ferrari team placing Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in sixth and seventh places respectively.
