Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team's Activities during the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix - Preliminary Day
Weekend Kickoff in Montreal
- George Russell topped Friday's charts at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Kimi Antonelli impressively taking third place in his debut at Mont-Tremblant.
- With the Pirelli's softest tires, C6, selected for the weekend, the team opted for a strategy of three sets of softs and one set of mediums, C5, in the two practice sessions.
- Given the temporary nature of the track, it cleaned up and improved throughout the day, making Friday's sessions crucial for gathering valuable data.
- Both drivers completed their assigned tasks without issue, amassing essential information for the team.
- In the first session, the team executed their findings, focusing on both snappy laps and longer runs with extra fuel.
- Antonelli hit his peak speed on his third push lap on the soft tires. Meanwhile, Russell set the day's fastest time with a single try on the mediums.
- The second session ended with the customary long runs, displaying a competitive power balance among various teams and drivers.
- Over the weekend, the F1 Academy saw Doriane Pin qualify third. The series put on three races in Montreal.
George Russell
Chart-topping is nice, but it's just Friday. Still, we're off to a decent start. Montreal's cooler temperatures and smooth asphalt embodied our expectations - at least so far. I managed a solid lap in session two and milked the car for all it was worth. We'll need to maintain this level for the remainder of the weekend to contend with the usual heavyweights.
Tomorrow's tire strategy could be a game-changer. With the C6 compound, the difference between soft and medium over a single lap isn't as significant as with the harder ones. We played it safe today by restricting ourselves to a single set of mediums to keep our options open for Saturday.
Kimi Antonelli
Today was a good day for us. We were competitive on both fast laps and long runs, and I felt right at home in the cockpit. With the track's freshness, we've got some ground to cover overnight, but we're off to a strong start. We've built a solid foundation. The cooler conditions and smooth surface were definitely an advantage. But I also think we've made progress with the car, as it felt better than during the previous race.
Montreal was a new playground for me, and I had a blast. The track seemed tricky initially, especially in the first practice session where the off-line portions were treacherous. However, I rose to the challenge and felt increasingly comfortable as the day progressed. I also made strides with the C6 tires, which had given me trouble in Imola and Monaco, but today's work suggest I've made significant progress.
Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director
Today was a positive Friday. We anticipated Montreal's track to better suit our car compared to recent circuits. The cooler conditions favoring the long runs should further benefit us. Nonetheless, we managed the car skillfully and extracted the best performance in both sessions. We conducted extensive work with full fuel loads and now have a good understanding of what adjustments are needed for further progress.
George showcased strong form here in previous years, demonstrated by his swift time in both practice sessions. Additionally, he set the day's fastest time with a strong lap, and his long run appeared promising compared to the competition. For Kimi, it was his inaugural lap at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, but he adapted swiftly. By day's end, he was within touching distance of his teammate, with a third place a commendable result.
Although today's performance is impressive by historical standards, qualifying will likely remain fiercely competitive. Long runs suggest that the usual contenders are very close, making Sunday's outcome uncertain. To convert today's promise into podium finishes on Sunday, we'll need to push harder than ever this weekend.
Doriane Pin, Mercedes Junior – FIA F1 Academy
After a challenging practice session, we stormed back to finish qualifying in third, a resilient comeback putting us right back in the mix. While it's not exactly what I anticipated, it's a solid starting position that offers a real shot at podiums this weekend. I'll collaborate closely with the team overnight to squeeze out a bit more speed for Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully, that will tip the scales in our favor and allow us to compete for wins.
Photo: Formula 1 - Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, Spanish Grand Prix 2025. Kimi AntonelliCopyright Mercedes-Benz Group
Enrichment Data:- Teams face a conundrum between employing the soft C6 tires and the medium C5 tires during qualifying.- Many teams prioritized the soft tires in practice despite concern over potential overheating issues with the C6 compound, particularly when temperatures rise on Saturday.- Teams might opt to save a set of mediums for qualifying to avoid overheating troubles.- The soft C6 tyres offer better performance over a single lap but may struggle to maintain consistency, whereas the medium C5 tyres might provide better durability and consistent performance over multiple laps, making them a favorable selection for teams trying to avoid overheating.
George Russell may find success in other sports over the weekend, given his impressive performance on the racetrack. Kimi Antonelli's third-place debut in Montreal has sparked curiosity about his potential in various sports as well.
